I).—1

At Sunnyside additions and alterations were made to laundry and entrance lodge. At Hornby a contract was let for the erection of a new unit for nervous afflictions. At Seacliff old single rooms and attendants' room in B Ward have been replaced by a new structure. All exteriors at Waitati have been renovated and general maintenance carried out. Buildings for Department of Agriculture. At Lumsden and Roxburgh residences have been erected for the use of Inspectors of Stock. Residences and farm buildings were provided at Galloway, Puwera, and Waimaunga Experimental Areas. Electric lighting and power have been installed at the Weraroa Central Development Farm. At Green Island land and buildings were purchased for a poison-mixing depot, and when the necessary machinery has been installed all South Island supplies will be distributed from this depot. Plans are in preparation for buildings for a dairy laboratory, and also for£a small butter and cheese factory for demonstration purposes. Hospitals and other Institutions. Additions and alterations at St. Helens Hospital at Gisborne were completed. At Pukeora Sanatorium substantial additions and alterations were carried out and additional machinery installed. At Otaki Sanatorium additional shelters and cubicles were provided, while the dining-room and recreation-room were added to and altered. The culinary department also received attention, while arrangements were made to provide a new water-supply for domestic and fire services. Necessary action to provide for electrical change-over to Mangahao current was taken. The principal works proposed are a new St. Helens Hospital at Christchurch, a new Nurses' Home at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer, and a Maternity Ward at King George V Hospital at Rotorua. Educational. A progressive policy of erecting new primary schools, remodelling and adding to existing schools, and replacing worn-out schools has been pursued, prior consideration having been given to the provision of accommodation in country districts where none previously existed. The following is a list of the larger schools completed during the past year: Epsom, Newmarket, Brixton Road, Point Chevalier, Westown, Eltham, Tawhero, Bunnythorpe, Napier South, Mahora (remodelled), Dannevirke South (remodelled), Dannevirke North (remodelled), Kaiwarra, Mount Cook, Christchurch West, Richmond, Lyttelton Street, Southbridge, Kumara, Caversham, St. George, and Invercargill North, while work is in progress at Napier Street (Auckland), Papanui, and Invercargill South. A system of consolidation of small schools has been inaugurated at Piopio, Lower Mangorei, and Oxford, where small neighbouring schools have been closed and schemes put into operation for the conveyance of the children to and from a larger central school. In order to bridge the gap between the primary and secondary schools, and to make better provision for vocational training, the junior-high-school system has been introduced. Junior high schools have been established at Kowhai, Matamata, Whangarei, and Waitaki, where accommodation has been provided by alterations or additions to existing buildings. Training college buildings have been completed at Auckland (first portion) and Christchurch. The second portion of the Auckland building is now under construction. New high schools have been erected by the Public Works Department at Whangarei, Hastings, Hutt Valley, Wellington East, and Invercargill, and additions to existing buildings at Thames, Gisborne, and Timaru. Under the same arrangement, additions are being carried out at Whangarei and New Plymouth. Other works completed are the Napier Boys' High School, Boys' High School at Riccarton, and Balclutha Boys' High School.

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