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XXV

While many of the old schools have been remodelled to provide up-to-date conditions, the Department, owing to lack of funds, has not been able during last year to carry out its intention to rebuild some of the obsolete city schools, and it is hoped that something in this direction can be done this year. A considerable building programme is being undertaken to provide accommodation for secondary-school pupils. During last year additions were erected at the Mount Albert Boys' Grammar School, the Hutt High School, and at the Wairarapa High School. A workshop building was completed at Marlborough High School, and additional dormitories at the Dannevirke High School Hostel. At the close of the year further additions were in course of erection at Mount Albert, Auckland, and at Dannevirke. A large sum was expended in the erection of buildings for the Massey Agricultural College, and further expenditure will be required in order to complete this institution. Additional accommodation and workshops have been added to several technical schools, and additions are in course of erection at Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Christchurch. Applications are still being received for grants for the erection of open-air class-rooms, and these are being erected where the localities are considered suitable. Certain information is being collected regarding the children attending these schools, with a view to ascertaining whether, this type of building is more suitable to New Zealand conditions than the standard fresh-air class-room. The following table shows for the year ended 31st March, 1929, the amount expended by the Department on new buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences:— £ Primary schools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 247,418 Secondary schools .. .. . . .. .. 44,382 Technical schools .. .. . . . . 23,281 Training colleges .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,223 Universities .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,564 Native schools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6,044 Special schools .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,277 Free kindergartens .. .. .. .. .. .. 967 Massey Agricultural College .. .. .. .. .. 32, 546 Canterbury Agricultural College .. .. .. .. .. 4,650 Total .. .. .. .. .. £375,352 TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. The expenditure was £39,254, as against £36,673 for the previous year. The erection of a hostel at Milford Sound to accommodate sixty guests was completed, and was in use during last tourist season. It is provided with electric light and every modern convenience, and tourists will now spend longer visits to this beautiful scenic resort. A new engine for the steamer on Lake Te Anau was purchased and installed, and extensions to the Rotorua electrical system were completed. The large additions to the hostel at Waitomo were also finished. This building will now accommodate one hundred tourists. TELEGRAPH EXTENSION. The expenditure for the last financial year in extending and improving the telephone, telegraph, and wireless facilities throughout the Dominion amounted to £624,414. Of the works upon which capital expenditure was incurred during the year, the following were the more important: The installation of two carrier-current-telephone channels between Auckland and Hamilton ; the erection of new metallic circuits between Palmerston North and Wanganui, Te Aroha and Hamilton, Rotorua and Atiamuri, Gisborne and Morere, Carterton and Greytown, Blenheim and Seddon, Darfield and Coalgate, Christchurch and Leeston, Rangiora and Oxford,

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