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Requirements in capital expenditure for the current year ending 31st March, 1936, will also be fairly extensive, as several works which have been deferred for some years are now being proceeded with. Arrangements are in hand for a new courthouse at Ashburton, but it is expected that by exchange of the valuable site on which the old courthouse now stands that the credits will exceed the expenditure. The erection of the Auckland Supreme Court Library additions is now under way, and it is anticipated will be completed by the end of this year. The estimated cost is slightly less than £12,000, of which sum the Auckland Law Society has contributed £2,250. At Palmerston North some further very essential additions are contemplated, and it is hoped that these will be approved and under way at an early date. At Wairoa a new courthouse has been commenced and is expected to be in occupation by the time this is in print. This was a very necessary building and replaces the exceedingly old and dangerous- building at present in occupation. At Invercargill some improved accommodation is necessary, as the existing courthouse which was erected about fifty years ago does not provide suitable accommodation for the conduct of the Court business. It has not yet been decided whether this will be rebuilt or whether reconstructive alterations and renovations will be carried out. Prison Buildings and Works. Expenditure under this heading has been kept to the bare essential minimum, with special consideration to the decreasing prison population which occurred during the last twelve months. During the year the sum of £1,605 was expended. At Invercargill further draining and roadmaking in connection with the Estuary Reclamation was carried out. The laundry equipment at Point Halswell Borstal was modernized, and a water-supply on portion of the farm at Waikeria Borstal, near Te Awamutu, was provided. At Rangipo Prison Camp the erection of a combined laundry and bathroom was completed, and improvements and additions were made to the officers' quarters. The installation of a cooler at the Auckland Prison was completed. The following shows the total annual expenditure of a capital nature on prison and borstal buildings since 1922 : — Amount. x - , , Amount. Tear ended £ Year ended £ 31st March., 1923 .. .. .. 23,148 : 31st March, 1930 .. .. .. 8,205 1924 .. .. .. 27,259 „ 1931 .. .. .. 2,504 1925 .. .. .. 25,279 „ 1932 .. .. .. 2,621 1926 .. .. •• 24,196 „ 1933 .. .. .. 2,026 , 1927 .. .. .. 22,812 j „ 1934 .. , .. .. 1,036 1928 .. .. •• 22,359 „ 1935 .. .. .. 1,605 1929 .. .. •• 12,572 Police-stations. Of the £7,500 that was voted for police-stations the net capital expenditure was £2,798. New police-stations were erected at Taradale and St. John's (Wanganui), and additions were made to Portobello and Otahuhu Police-stations. Post and Telegraph Buildings and Land. Although the preparation of plans for several buildings was in hand at the end of the financial year, the only building actually under construction at that time was the new Chief Post-office at Dunedin. Good progress is being made with the construction of that building, which was commenced early in 1934. Small additions and alterations to buildings were undertaken at a number of places during the year, and the following works were also carried out: The erection of a new post-office building at Karori, Wellington ; the completion of the new post-office buildings at

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