78

H.—l.

At Christchurch large public buildings are in course of erection in brickwork, with stone dressings and slated roofs, the contract for which was taken at €14,521. Good progress is being made with the work, and it is expected the buildings will be ready for occupation iv November, and will provide accommodation for the following departments : —Postal, Telegraph, Insurance, Customs, Stamp, and Public Works. Fourteen buildings have been erected for postal and telegraph accommodation —-namely, at Longford, Kawakawa, Tenui, Mataura, Worser Bay, Whangaroa, Mohaka, Waiwcra, Port Chalmers, Mongonui, Otago Heads, Kumara, and Recfton. Besides which, additions and alterations have been made at or designed for Dunedin, Russell, Hamilton, Lawrence, Hawera, Port Ahuriri, Carterton, Coromandel, and Queenstown. Designs have also been made for new offices at Dunedin North, Newton (Auckland), Otaki, and Takapau. Police buildings have been erected and completed at Amberley, Coalgate, Porangahau, Port Chalmers, Rakaia, Hawera, Ohinemutu, and Motueka; while either repairs, additions, or alterations have been made at Greymouth, Havelock, Invercargill, Blenheim, Kumara, Wanganui, Geraldine, Gisborne, Napier, and Thames. Designs have been prepared and plans made for new police buildings at Mataura Bridge, Reefton, Wanganui, and Picton. A sketch design has also been made for new police barracks at Dunedin North. Six new Courthouses have been completed at the following places : Hutt (erected by County Council), Maketu, Kaihu, Carterton, Wairoa, and Timaru. The largest of these was that erected at Timaru in concrete, at a cost of €3,719. Designs have been made and plans prepared for new buildings at Picton, Motueka, Akaroa, Alexandra, Hyde, Feilding, and Ohinemutu; also sketch design for new Supreme Courthouse, Wellington, estimated to cost € Hi,ooo ; besides which, alterations and additions have been effected to Courthouses at Foxton, Wanganui, and Lawrence. During the year an extensive fire occurred at the Lunatic Asylum, Auckland, by which the greater portion of the east wing was destroyed : this lias been restored by a private architect at a cost of €5,787. It also entailed the temporary removal of a number of patients, who were accommodated at the old hospital building, which has been added to, altered, and repaired, to meet the requirements, at a cost of €358. The above list comprises the principal works which have been either designed, commenced, or finished during the year; besides which very many repairs have been executed to various buildings throughout the colony—viz., Government Printing Office, Wellington; Gaol, Auckland; Gaol, Wellington ; converting old hospital at Hamilton into gaol; Lunatic As3dum, Nelson; Hospital, Christchurch; Hospital, Auckland; Gaol, Wanganui; Gaol,New r Plymouth ; Government House, Auckland; Government House, Wellington; Courthouse, Napier; Post Office, Napier; Industrial Schools, Christchurch; Hospital, Christchurch; Lunatic Asylum, Christchurch; Immigration Depot, Greymouth; and many others. Very valuable assistance has been received from the Public Works Engineers or members of their staff by way of inspection and in the execution of various works. I beg to draw your attention to the great disadvantage the office has laboured under since the decease of the late Colonial Architect, no head of this branch of the public service having been appointed, nor extra assistance granted; the professional work has therefore been done by a very small staff indeed, consisting of one assistant (Mr. Beatson) and a cadet. Since the provinces have been abolished, the work has increased to a great extent, and has been very heavy on those employed. The total expenditure during the year has been, — £ s. d. Judicial .. ..- .. .. .. .. 11,293 10 0 Postal and Telegraphic .. .. .. .. .. 10,281 0 5 Offices for Public Departments .. .. .. .. 27,22116 6 Lunatic Asylums .. .. .. .. .. 4,183 1 4> Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. 41,029 8 3 €94,008 16 6 I have, &c., P. F. M. Burrows, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Architect.

ANNUAL EEPORT BY THE ACTING CHIEE INSPECTOR OE MACHINEEY. The Acting Chief Inspector to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Office of the Chief Inspector of Machinery, Sib,— Wellington, 2nd August, 1878. I have the honor to forward the usual annual report —the fourth —on the working of the