D.—l.

raising all parts of the building to the original level was put in hand and is now finished, and all foundations made good. Various alterations have been made in the offices, and repairs and maintenance attended to. New steps have been put in at two of the entrances, and a block crossing at the Whitmore Street entrance. General Post Office. —A store-room for cablegrams has been made in the cellar. Several of the rooms have been altered and renovated. Extra accommodation has been provided for the lettercarriers ; and rooms have been fitted up in Levin's store for various branches of the post and telegraph services. A small addition has been made to the Telephone Exchange. Parliament Buildings. —Considerable renovations were made; also alterations were made in various ways. A large amount of steel shelving has been erected in the library. A new cartapproach road has been made from Sydney Street. General. —Some fencing has had to be done around the various grounds. Some improvements have been made in the grounds of some of the residences. The Museum House has been converted into offices for the Health Department, and a fumigat-ing-shed has been erected in the grounds. A new shed has been erected for the gardeners in Government House grounds. A large amount of work has been done at Somes Island, and a new yard was made for the use of the prisoners engaged in tree-planting. A contract has been let for the erection of a Customhouse at Wellington, and the work is now well advanced. Terrace Gaol. — An addition has been made to a warder's cottage — a new approach road has been made. Various repairs have been made; also extensive alterations, re-arrangements, &c, necessitated by the building of the new wing. Some of the old wooden storm-water drains have been renewed. A contract has been let for the erection of a new wing containing sixty cells. The work is now in progress, but is somewhat delayed by scarcity of labour. The new Gaoler's residence has been completed. Four warders' cottages at Mount Cook have been renovated, and work is in progress at two others. Improvements in one of the drains have been made. Police-station, Mount Cook. —Three new cells are being built ; considerable alterations in the drainage system were involved—a retaining-wall had to be removed, and large excavations made. The main building has been renovated both inside and out, and linoleum laid in some of the rooms. Sundry repairs have been effected at the Manners Street Police-station, and also at Newtown Police-station. Alterations and additions to the Hutc Police-station are now in progress. The contract for the erection of a new Magistrates' Court in brick is nearly completed. Additions have been made to the photographic gallery at the Government Printing Office. A large amount of work was done in installing electric lighting in many of the offices and Government buildings, and in fitting fire-alarms, also in maintaining the various electric services. Two contracts have been let for the construction of clocks and their erection in the towers of the post-offices at Masterton, Bluff, Oamaru, Ashburton, Wanganui, and Feilding. Those for 'Masterton, Bluff, and Wanganui are completed ; the others are in progress. Government House, Departmental Buildings, Parliament Buildings, Printing Office, and Government Life Insurance Buildings were decorated and brilliantly illuminated by electric lamps in honour of the coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII. Mablboeough District. Departmental Buildings, Blenheim. —The outside of the buildings was painted, and some repairs done ; a telegraph lineman's store-shed built, also a bicycle-shed. Linoleum was provided for several rooms. Canvas hose and fittings, additional buckets, and two hand-pumps were added to the fire-prevention service. Departmental Buildings, Picton. —A pipe was laid from the town water-mains, and hose and fittings provided for fire-prevention service. An office was provided for the District Valuer, and a brick fireproof safe built. Some fencing was erected at the Postmaster's house, Havelock, and improvements made in the drainage. New police quarters have been erected at Havelock. Some repairs and papering were done to the Wairau Native school. Nelson District. Nelson Asylum. —A contract for outbuildings was completed during the year. A system of electric fire-alarms has been installed. A contract for the construction of an auxiliary reservoir is in progress. Tenders were called for the erection of workshops and piggeries, but only one was received, and it was declined. A considerable amount of general maintenance work was done. West Coast Districts. Westport. —The following buildings were completed during the year : Signalman's house, Karamea; constables' residences at Denniston and Seddonville. Eepairs, &c, have been done as follows: Additions and repairs, post-office, Lyell ; gas-fittings, post-office, Westport; repairs, Warden's Clerk's residence, Westport; painting, &c, to Magistrate's house; repairs, Cape Poulwind Lighthouse; repairs, constable's residence, Charleston; repairs, Courthouse, Westport; repairs and painting police-station, Westport; painting Westport Gaol; fencing post and telegraph office, Denniston.

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