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a portion of the Mount Cook Gaol, Wellington, so that it may be occupied by the prisoners at present confined in the Terrace Gaol, with the view of the latter building being converted into an auxiliary lunatic asylum. Provision is also made for completing the new Courthouse at Hawera ; also for a new brick Courthouse at Marton to replace the building recently destroyed by fire, for completing the Courthouses at Paeroa and St. Bathan's, for considerable additions at Reefton, and renovations at Hokitika, &c. ; also for commencing new police-station at Auckland, and for new stations at Hikurangi, Moawhango, Bltham, Wellington (Manners Street), Christchurch (Bingsland), Eangiora, &c. Postal and Telegbaph. The principal expenditure under this head last year occurred on the offices at Hawera, Hastings, Stratford, Cheviot, and Queenstown, but smaller amounts were expended on several other offices. This year provision is made for completing the new office at Hawera, for erecting a new brick building to replace the one recently burned at Marton, and for new offices at Waitekauri, Waihi,, Kuaotunu, Ashurst, &c, and for additions to the Wellington Telephone Exchange and the Whakapuaka Cable-station. Lunatic Asylums. The principal expenditure in connection with lunatic asylums last year took place at Sunnyside (Christchurch), Auckland, and Seacliff (Otago), the total amount expended on buildings of this class being £10,935. This year we ask for a vote of £20,100—namely, £11,000 for works in Auckland, £4,000 for Porirua, and smaller amounts for other asylums. School-Buildings. The total amount voted under this head last year was £46,000 —namely f £26,000 under the Consolidated Fund and £20,000 under the Public Works Fund—and the whole amount was expended. This year £26,000 i? provided from the Consolidated Fund, and from the Public Works Fund we ask £22,780, £500 of which is required for alterations and renovations urgently needed at the Caversham Industrial School, and £2,000 for special grants for school buildings in newly-settled districts. Hospitals and Chabitable Institutions. Votes were taken last year for works in connection with the hospitals at Auckland, Wanganui, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill, the amounts voted being fully expended, except in the case of Christchurch. This year we ask for a vote to cover the balance due for the Christchurch Hospital. LIGHTHOUSES, HAEBOUB-WOEKS, AND HAEBOUE DEFENCES. The amount voted for lighthouses last year was £7,050, but only £234 actually came to charge within the year, owing to the Agent-General's accountsfor the lantern appliances not arriving in time to be brought to book, and the contract for the iron tower for Cape Palliser not being completed until after the close of the year. The amounts have therefore to be again voted this year, with an additional sum on account of the iron tower proposed to be erected at Cape Kidnappers. The lanterns for both Cape Palliser and Cape Kidnappers are already in the colony, and the tower for the former building is finished and ready for transport to the site. The tower for the latter building has not yet been contracted for, but it is proposed to call for tenders for it shortly. Last year's vote for harbour-works was £4,250, and £3,861 was expended. This year we ask for the reduced amount of £1,230 only, the principal item being the reclamation-works now in progress at Sticking Point, Lyttelton.