31

A.—4

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. The Engineer in Charge, reporting for the period up to 31st March, says : — " With the change from Military to Civil Administration, the Departments of Public Works and Lands and Survey, which had been administered under the military occupation as one concern by the Commissioner of Lands and Works, were placed under separate control from the beginning of July, 1920. " Since that date the Department of Public Works has been completely reorganized and strengthened. A number of expert staff from New Zealand arrived in October, 1920, but, owing to the extraordinary delays in obtaining vital stores, particularly timber, mosquito-netting, and machinery, little progress was made in new construction work until January, 1921. Since January considerable progress has been made in building-work, and the arrival a month ago of a portable stone-crushing plant, together with, the prospective arrival within a few weeks of a large shipment of American timber, presages well for the incoming financial year. " The inefficiency and inconstancy of Samoan labour, and the lack of skilled assistance, have proved very trying to the staff, and I take, this opportunity of placing on record my appreciation of the loyalty and strict adherence to duty of those officers who have carried on willingly under the adverse conditions, in spite of the fact that they are called upon to work longer hours in the tropical climate than they have been accustomed to in New Zealand. " Buildings.--The, great scarcity of house accommodation for officials of the Administration, and the grave need for maintenance work on all Government buildings, due to the tropical climate, have meant that a large, proportion of the staff has been continually engaged on renovation work. Six residences belonging to the Administration, and eight residences belonging to the Crown estates, have been thoroughly overhauled and renovated for occupation by Administration officials. Twenty residences have been provided with mosquito-proof rooms. Four residences have been provided with flush-closets and septic-tanks. Twelve residences have been leased from private individuals, and minor improvements have been made to bring the buildings up to a reasonable standard. " Government House, Vailima. —A large section of the vernada on the upper floor was made into a mosquito-room, and the wall of the adjacent room was removed and replaced with arches. External painting is almost completed, and portions of the interior have been renovated. A storm-water drain, 170 ft. long, was laid in 9 in. and 12 in. earthenware pipes. " Central Office. —Minor repairs have been effected. The Administrator's office and an adjoining room have been made available as a Legislative Council chamber. Exterior painting has been completed by contract. " Schools. —Exterior and interior painting of three Government schools in Apia has been completed. School furniture ha.s been entirely overhauled, cleaned, and varnished. " Apia Gaol. —A new kitchen and bathroom have been added to the Gaoler's residence, and other minor structural alterations have been carried out. Exterior and interior painting of the Gaoler's residence have been completed. " Stores Department. —To provide accommodation for the Stores Department a new stairway and other minor alterations were made to one of the Crown estates' stores. A large cellar, previously useless owing to the ingress of water, has been made watertight, and has been provided with a water-jet pump. A new office building for the Stores Manager and his staff has been completed. " Public Works and, Survey Office. The interior of these offices have been completely renovated. " Public Works Garage- -A new garage and mechanical workshop was completed. Extensions to the building for the housing of further cars and lorries are contemplated, and plans have been prepared. " Central Hotel. —Portions of the interior have been renovated. A now office was constructed, and the drainage-system, which relied entirely on soakage, was pulled up and relaid with a sea outfall. " Single Men's Quarters.- -The building previously used by the Constabulary as a barracks has been internally reconstructed for use as single men's quarters, and will shortly be completed. " Office for Department of Native Affairs. —The building previously used by the Constabulary as stores has been removed back from the street, raised, and reconstructed to form an office for the Department of Native Affairs. The work is now nearing completion. Post-office. —The main building has been completely repaired and renovated. One hundred new letter-boxes and a large new counter have been provided. Extensions to provide a workshop, telephone exchange, and additional mail-room accommodation have just been completed. " Cool Store. —A cool store of 1,000 cubic feet capacity was erected at the ice-works as a temporary measure. " Hospital, Apia. —Considerable work is in progress at the Hospital. A dining-room, store-room, kitchen, W.C, and shower for Native nurses have been completed with the exception of painting and drainage, both of which arc well under way. A building to comprise, offices for the Chief Medical Officer and his staff, and. a consulting-room for whites, is being constructed of concrete blocks, and is about half-completed. Internal alterations have been made in the out-patients' department. One- half of the white ward has been made mosquito-proof. The superstructure of four new native fates has been completed, and two more are well under way. Concreting of the floors is just being commenced. Two old fades have been rethatohed, and have been provided with concrete floors. Two annexes to contain showers, W.C.s, and slop-sinks are being erected in concrete blocks with reinforcedconcrete roofs. One is almost completed and the foundations of the second are being laid. Plans are under way for an up-to-date laboratory in reinforced concrete. " Medical Out-station, Tuasivi, Savaii. —A dispensary was completed, and a contract for a doctor's residence, is under way, the work being about half completed. " New Residence, Moio'olua, Apia. —A plan was prepared for a Government settlement in Moto'otua, and the first cottage of standard type is now being erected. The work is about two-thirds completed.