D.—l

XX

Prison Buildings and Works. The policy of utilizing prison labour productively on prison buildings, farni development, and roadworks has been continued during the year with satisfactory results. The quarry has provided the most profitable outlet for prison labour at Mount Eden Prison. Every effort has been made to turn out a product suitable to current demands, and the question of adapting the crushers to enable graded metal to be produced has received attention. A properly equipped quarry repairshop has been erected, which enables repairs to be effected on the spot expeditiously and economically. Several structural improvements have been effected during the year in the Mount Eden Prison building, the principal of which were the flooring and ventilation of the cells and the construction of a new bathroom. Good progress has been made in the formation of the scenic road at Rangitoto Island. At the Waikeria Borstal Institution further land has been brought into cultivation by draining and clearing. An additional area has been acquired from the Mental Hospitals Department, and it is proposed to establish immediately two additional dairies. At Hautu and Rangipo Prison Camps development work has been pursued with marked success. 10,000 acres of pumice land were acquired during the year at Hautu, and 850 acres have been brought into cultivation and stocked, seven miles of fencing erected, and 12,500 trees planted. Road construction and maintenance work has continued in the Waimari.no district with satisfactory results. Sawmilling operations in the National Park, which were not a financial success, were discontinued during the year, and the mill plant was disposed of. At Wanganui Prison renovations have been effected, and the prison has been equipped to make it suitable for the segregation of aged and infirm prisoners. The construction of a new prison at Mount Crawford has proceeded simultaneously with the demolition of the Terrace Prison. It is hoped to have both works completed in twelve months' time. Several improvements, including the construction of an up-to-date laundry to enable general Government laundry-work to be undertaken, have been effected at the Point Halswell Borstal Institution. At Wi Tako an extension of the cell-ranges and the provision of improved accommodation has been effected. The brickmaking which proved to be unprofitable as a prison industry, has been discontinued, and the works have been leased to a co-operative working-party. The prison building and administration block at Paparua are almost completed, and the walls and exercise-yards are now under construction. At the Invercargill Borstal Institution, draining, reclamation, and bridgeconstruction work have been proceeded with, and a commencement has been made on the erection of accommodation for technical classes. It is proposed during the year to provide for additional accommodation, as the institution has been overcrowded for some time. Police-stations. The expenditure on police-stations amounted to £7,410. New stations were erected at Eketahuna and Putaruru, offices at Mokau and Waikiwi, and a lock-up at Ruatorea. The police-station at Aratapu was removed and re-erected at Ruawai, and the erection of a new station at Phillipstown (Christchurch) was commenced. A house and section for use as a police-station were purchased at Te Karaka, and sites for police-stations were acquired at St. Clair (Dunedin) and Normanby. Post and Telegraph Buildings. Post-office buildings were completed as follows : Brunnerton, Kaukapakapa, Marton, Ohai, Omakau, Oturehua, Outram, Paeroa, Paihia, Poolburn, Seddon (telephone exchange), Te Kauwhata, Wellsford. The new post-office building at Marton, the foundation-stone of which was laid in 1925, was completed on the 27th April, 1927. The building is a handsome two-storied structure of brick and concrete, and is a distinct departure from the