42

D.—l

Captain Saville still lay ill, was bared and tested by the inexorable smoke-test—which not only detects defective joints and workmanship, but also at once exposes any wrong connections or any faulty sanitation —in the presence of the Governor and his medical adviser, who were thoroughly satisfied. It was never contended that the dependencies were similarly perfect, because there had been no time to make them so, as regards their sanitation ; but they were certainly much above the average of Wellington houses. On His Excellency going out of residence these dependencies were all taken in hand, and the process of thorough overhaul commenced upon them also. At the same time, as the outcome of these cases, the City Council began relaying the sewers in the streets surrounding Government House. In excavating for these works a large number of old and abandoned drains, apparently leading from the Government House grounds, were cut through and exposed. Prison-labour was therefore employed to trace and expose each one of these to the bitter end within the grounds. Also, at the same time (a third case of typhoid having occurred at the coachman's lodge), a Commission was appointed to inquire into the whole matter, and duly forwarded a report, which has been printed, and is available for perusal. It is not, therefore, further necessary to refer to it beyond saying that the evils discovered were not very extensive, and that the Commissioners approved of all the work that had been, was being, and was proposed to be. done by the department, with only one or two exceedingly trifling exceptions. Operations were therefore continued, the whole of the old drains entirely removed, and every smallest detail connected with both the mansion and dependencies brought up to the latest ideas, while every drain was taken up and relaid in cement, flushing-tanks provided to all separate systems, manholes revised, and every step taken double-proved by smoke-test. To merely mention the principal items would take too much space ; but there has probably seldom been such a searching overhaul and modernising of sanitary arrangements at any mansion. No trouble or device has been spared to ensure safety, with, it is confidently believed, that result. Notwithstanding the upheavals and destructions caused by these extensive operations, the grounds were restored throughout to a better condition than for several years past before His Excellency returned into residence. Government House, Auckland. —ln consequence of the events at Wellington, and of His Excellency intending to proceed to Auckland for the summer, the same thorough process of overhaul and renewal was applied to the sanitary arrangements of Government House, Auckland, last winter, under the immediate supervision of an experienced officer of the department. It was found necessary to undertake extensive works, and these were all carried to successful completion. To describe them would be to repeat what was done at Wellington, and it will, perhaps, be sufficient to say that the same result is believed to have been attained. Material renovations and improvements were at the same time effected in the interior and grounds of the mansion, including extensive repairs to the slate roof; the stable-accommodation was also considerably altered and improved, but without adding thereto. New out-offices were somewhat later erected to replace those existing, which were in a disreputable state of disrepair, and were removed bodily ; and two new rooms and a shed were added to the gatekeeper's lodge. In all this new work, first-class sanitation was imperatively specified. A considerable amount of other general work has been carried out in connection with the mansion, dependencies, and grounds, with appreciable advantages to the comfort and convenience of any one going into residence. General Sanitary Works. —The policy of the department to make sanitation a matter of first importance in dealing with public buildings has been steadily carried out as far as the funds at command and the opportunities afforded would allow. The nature and costliness of the work, however, and the continuous expert supervision, without which it cannot be properly relied upon, as w rell as the fact that every place undertaken proved to imperatively require extensive operations, have prevented much being done yet outside of Wellington. The Departmental Buildings, Printing Office, four Ministerial residences, Museum and Museumhouse, and General Post-office have all been placed, as far as possible, in a properly sanitary condition, and to refer in detail to the work at each of these places would take some space: it is perhaps sufficient to say that in each case, without exception, conditions prevailed opposed to all sanitary laws, and that in each case an almost entirely new system throughout had to be laid out and execiited at considerable cost. As already mentioned, the Departmental Buildings at Auckland and Dunedin have also been included. The Departmental Buildings at Wellington afforded peculiar and special difficulties, and could not, except at great inconvenience and very large cost, be brought up to present-day standard; but extensive rearrangements and devices were planned and executed after much consideration, which have so greatly improved matters that there are now no complaints, and it is hardly possible for any insanitary conditions to arise or prevail. Parliamentary Buildings. —Very carefully compiled actual measurement-plans have been made by an experienced draughtsman of every floor and of the roofs of Parliamentary Buildings. These form a record never possessed before, and will prove drawings of exceptional value in dealing with this complex structure generally, and in designing any alterations and improvements. . The whole of the exterior and the roofs were painted before last session, and the appearance thereby greatly improved. The Legislative Council chamber was renovated throughout, and also its surrounding lobbies and passages ; while the walls of the main lobby, which had been left dingy white since construction, were cleaned and distempered, a similar process being applied to Bellamy's and to the whips' rooms, lavatories, &c. In preparation for this year's session, the passages and lobbies round the House of Eepresentatives; the main entrance and vestibule ; and the branch passages therefrom, are being cleaned and distempered. When this is completed the who,le of the lobbies and passages from the main entrance round the House of Eepresentatives, through the main lobby, round the Legislative Council, and out to the Governor's entrance, and many rooms, &c, frequently used by honourable members, will present continuously a renovated and clean appearance which has been conspicuous by its absence Tor many years past. A large amount