D.—l

XXII

The liope expressed in last year's report regarding an addition to the chief post-office building at Gisborne is being consummated. The work is in progress. Plans are now in course of preparation for buildings at the following places : Marton, Napier, and Taumarunui, and for additions to existing buildings at Palmerston North, Hastings, and Wanganui. In connection with street - improvement work in the City of Auckland, the Government recently entered into an arrangement with the Auckland City Council for the exchange of certain real estate. The transaction will result in the transfer of the Auckland Bast Post-office building and site in Shortland Street to the Auckland City Council. The building which is to be demolished is a very old structure, and until 1912 it housed the Chief Post-office at Auckland. If the post and telephone office at present conducted in the building is to be continued, new accommodation will require to be found for the office. The manual-telephone exchange previously in use at Auckland has been replaced by an automatic-telephone exchange, which is housed in a building erected in Wellesley Street. Portion of the Shortland Street building has been used as a store for telegraph and telephone material and for a workshop. It was necessary, therefore, to secure other accommodation for these purposes. This is being provide, by means of an addition to the workshop and garage building in Stanley Street. In places at which the Post and Telegraph Department has in commission petrol - driven vehicles, and where the circumstances warrant it, suitable arrangements require to be made for the storage and delivery of motor-spirit. The former is provided by means of steel tanks suitably placed underground, and the latter is made by means of a pump. The capacity of the tanks varies from 200 to 1,000 gallons ; the pumps are of two types, the measuring type and the non-measuring tyP 6 - In addition to the foregoing, renovations and repairs were carried out at nearly one hundred post-offices. Customhouses. The cellar-floor of the Customhouse at Nelson was relaid in Neufchatel asphalt with concrete top, to prevent water percolating through. Mental Hospitals Department. At Auckland electric light has been installed in the institution, and also in the Medical Superintendent's and clerk's residences. The hot-water system in the main building lias been remodelled. Extensive repairs and renovations have been carried out, fire appliances inspected, and defective hose renewed. Alterations and renovations have been carried out at the Wolfe Home, and additional ventilation provided. At Tokanui the administration and store block was completed, and the female admission block is nearing completion. A workshop building was converted into a dormitory, and electric lighting installed in all staff cottages and farm buildings. The necessary machinery was installed in the laundry. A water-supply has been provided from the Te Awamutu Council's main. At Porirua new day-rooms were provided, and a three-story concrete building with verandas and sun-rooms for the use of the patients. Two villas for female patients are nearly ready for occupation, and steady progress is being made relative to three similar buildings for men patients. Suitable quarters for workmen, including a reading-room and bathrooms and lavatories, have been provided, and a new kitchen and dining-room constructed. At Hokitika the No. 1 unit, being part of a new scheme proposed, was completed. A residence for the Medical Superintendent, and also cottage for night nurses, were erected. The attendants' quarters were renovated, and the construction of a villa to accommodate a considerable number of patients was put in hand. All buildings have been connected with the new drainage system, and electric lighting installed. At Nelson Mental Hospital a new store was erected, and a veranda provided at the male portion of the main section. Toitoi Ward was renovated, and alterations and improved lavatory accommodation works put in hand at El Nido Ward.