D.—l

XXVI

Mental Hospitals. Avondale : Additions and alterations to the laundry have been completed. Plans and specifications have been prepared for a new residence for the Medical Superintendent. Puhitahi : The permanent water-supply was brought into service. The dining-room has been extended. The sites of the proposed kitchen block and two new villas have been excavated, and tenders have been called for the erection of the latter in brick and concrete. Tokanui: Three villas for women patients were completed and a Nurses' Home in brick is being built. Porirua : Extensive repairs and renovations were carried out during the year, and new fire-escapes were provided at the main building. Nelson and Stoke : Earthquake-damage repairs were effected at Nelson and Stoke. Three new villas in brick and concrete are being erected at Stoke, and will be ready at an early date. York's farm was purchased. The permanent watersupply is now in hand. Sunnyside : The new boiler-house was completed, and boilers were installed. Templeton : Villa No. 3 to accommodate forty-eight patients was completed during the year. Hokitika : A 40,000-gallon water-tower was completed, and tenders called for the necessary pumping-plant. A large villa in wood on concrete foundations is being erected. Seacliff : The necessary equipment for the new kitchen and laundry was provided, and the additions to the Nurses' Home were completed. The net capital expenditure under this heading for the year was £152,096. Health and Hospital Institutions. The chief works under this heading were the completion of the new Nurses' Home at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer ; the new maternity hospital at Paeroa for the Thames Hospital Board ; and an ante-natal clinic at Wanganui. Extensive earthquake damages were repaired at Buller Hospital, Westport, and monetary assistance was granted to Grey River, Inangahua, and Nelson Hospital Boards to effect repairs to earthquake damages at the various Boards' institutions. Agricultural Buildings. The amount expended last year on capital works was £2,963. The principal works carried out were additions to the laboratory at Wallaceville, the provision of a water-supply at Mamaku, and the erection of a plant-research station at Palmerston North. Education. During the year ended 31st March, 1930, the sum of £443,885 was spent on new school buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences, an increase of £68,533 on the expenditure for the previous year. Of the total, £253,636 was expended in connection with primary schools, and £78,438 on secondary schools. During the year new schools were erected at Richardson Road, Auckland ; Milson's Line, Palmerston North ; St. John's, Wanganui ; Randwick Road and Brooklyn (infants), Wellington ; and at a large number of schools additional accommodation was provided. As far as possible, the Department undertook the remodelling of out-of-date schools in order to provide better conditions, especially with regard to fighting and ventilation. The larger schools so treated were Terrace End, Palmerston North ; Castlecliff, Wanganui; Invercargill Middle and the Dunedin Normal School. Additional class-rooms were erected at the Dannevirke High School and also at the Pukekohe, Hamilton, Palmerston North, and Southland Technical Schools. A further sum of £45,304 was expended in the erection of the science building and refectory for the Massey Agricultural College, and large works are in progress at a number of primary, secondary, and technical schools. Many of the old schools are regarded as worn out, and will be replaced by new and up-to-date buildings as funds are available. At present old buildings are being replaced at Wellington Boys' College, and new primary-school buildings at Hunterville, Tapanui, and Nelson Central. A new infant school is replacing the old one at College Street, Palmerston North.