D.—l

36

ARCHITECT'S BRANCH, The annual report of the Architect on all works executed or in progress during the year is attached to this report. I have, &c, John Blackett, The Hon. the Minister for Public Works. Engineer in Charge North Island.

Enclosure in Appendix D. ANNUAL REPORT ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS, NORTH ISLAND, FOR YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH, 1881.

The Aechitect to the Engineeb in Chaege, North Island. Sib, — Public Works Office, Architect's Branch, sth July, 1881. I have the honor to report upon the various buildings designed, added to, or altered, together with contracts let, in progress, or completed, from Ist April, 1880, to 31st March, 1881, in connection with the Architect's Branch of the Public Works Service. During the year designs have been prepared for the following new buildings—-namely, Resident Magistrate's Court, Warkworth, as an addition to police station ; post office and telegraph stations at Kamo and Otaki; lock-ups at Newton (Auckland), Otaki, and Mercury Bay ; and a police station at Tinui. Drawings have also been made for alterations and additions to post offices and telegraph stations at Hokianga, Grahamstown, Gisborne', New Plymouth, and Cambridge; and for additions to the railway stations at Feilding, Palmerston North, and Carterton, for the accommodation of the postal and telegraphic departments ; alterations to the Government Printing Office, Wellington ; and for two storage reservoirs—one for Her Majesty's Gaol and the other for the Mount View Lunatic Asylum, Wellington. Contracts for the following works have been completed: New Supreme Court and offices, Wellington; police stations at Wellington, Warkworth, Tauranga, Katikati, Hamilton, Tologa Bay, Opotiki, Maketu, Whakatane, Ohinemutu, Waitara, Waitotara, Inglewood, Normanby, Manutahi, and Carlyle; lock-ups at Newton (Auckland), Awanui, and Otaki; post offices and telegraph stations at Dargaville, Te Kopuru, Otaki, and Kamo. Alterations and additions or repairs have been completed to the following buildings: Post offices and telegraph stations at Wanganui, Lower Hutt, Cambridge, Grahamstown, and Auckland ; as also to the railway stations at Feilding and Palmerston North. The old Wesleyan Chapel, High Street, Auckland, and the Gymnasium at Cambridge, have been converted into Resident Magistrates' Courts and offices; and alterations and additions have been completed to the gaols at Wellington and Gisborne. Extensive alterations and additions have been completed to the lunatic asylums at Auckland and Wellington. Works in Progress. —Alterations to Courthouse at Palmerston North; new police station at Tinui; additions to railway station at Carterton, for post and telegraph station ; and a new laundry at the Whau Lunatic Asylum, Auckland. Miscellaneous Works completed. —Repairs to immigration barracks, Wellington; alteration to Government Printing Office; the construction of storage-reservoirs at Mount View Lunatic Asylum and Her Majesty's Gaol, Wellington : besides various other works of a minor character, such as small alterations to post offices at Tarauaki, Gisborne, Foxton, and Coromandel; repairs to Customhouse at Napier, Government House at Auckland, &c. The total expenditure in the Architect's Branch during the year has been, — £ s. d. Judicial ... ... ... ... ... ... 37,975 4 2 Postal and Telegraphic ... ... ... ... ... 3,640 10 7 Lunatic Asylums ... .... ... ... ... 13,926 11 8 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... 872 19 4 Sundry repairs, alterations; fittings, furniture, &c. ... ... 18,665 411 £75,080 10 8 I have, &c, P. F. M. Bueeows, The Engineer in Charge, North Island, Wellington. Architect.