D.—l

XII

production of gold and silver, and partly to the fact that our long-continued prosperity in other fields of enterprise has diverted much capital from mininginvestment. Nevertheless, as regards the more useful minerals, steady and hopeful progress is visible; and an industry which every year adds several million pounds to the wealth of the Dominion is worthy of generous assistance on the part of the State. Expenditure under this heading during the year was £4,890, and a vote of £4,600 is proposed to be taken this year. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. The total expenditure on public buildings during the last financial year amounted to £611,041, made up as follows :— & New buildings (Class XVIII, Public Works Fund).... 369,600 Maintenance-works (Class V, Consolidated Fund).... 78,877 Maintenance-works, schools (Class XV, Consolidated Fund) .... .... ..:. .... .... 97,407 £545,884 For the current year the following appropriations are proposed: — New buildings (Public Works Fund) .... .... 538,000 Maintenance-works (Consolidated Fund) .... 69,600 Maintenance-works, schools (Consolidated Fund) .... 103,156 £710,756 General. The most important building provided for under this heading is the new Parliament Buildings, for the first and major portion of which the tender of Messrs. Hansford, Mills, and Hardie, for £151,639, was accepted on 12th December last. The contractors were unable to undertake very much work on the ground at once, as the obtaining of stone and steel-work, and the getting-together of a suitable plant, took some time; but considerable progress is now being made, and the contractors anticipate being able to finish their contract by the date stipulated therein —viz., 12th December, 1915. The large new departmental buildings in Worcester Street, Christchurch, have been completed and occupied, and considerable progress has been made with the Gisborne building; while the departmental buildings at Stratford and Hokitika have been completed, also the Public Works workshops and store in Wellington. The principal item on the current year's vote is for the continuation of the work at the new Parliament Buildings, but substantial sums are also provided for the completion of the Grisborne building and the Public Works workshop and store in Wellington. Smaller items are provided for converting the old Magistrates' Court at Auckland into fireproof offices for the Lands and Deeds Registry Department, for making a commencement with the proposed new fireproof departmental buildings in Wellington, for a new building at Tauranga, for new magazines at Dunedin, for the acquisition of much-needed additional land at Blenheim, for additions to the Government Printing Office, and for new Public Works stores at Auckland and Dunedin. Judicial. Courthouses. —The new Magistrates' Court, Auckland, has been completed and opened; also new buildings at Kaitaia, Kaikohe, and Martinborough; additions at Wanganui, and sundry minor works elsewhere. For the current year votes are proposed for new Courthouses at Waipu, Te Puke, Wairoa, Waipukurau, Raetihi, Motueka, Kumara, Amberley, Balclutha,