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APPENDIX C. ANNUAL REPORT ON BUILDINGS BY THE GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT. The Government Architect to the Hon. the Minister op Public Works. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the following report on the activities of the Architectural Branch of the Department for the year ended 30th June, 1927 : — During the period plans were prepared for eighty-six new works, of a total estimated value of £756,155, of which thirty-three contracts, to the amount of £68,122, have been let. In addition, forty-one contracts, to the amount of £245,420, for buildings designed prior to the 30th June, 1926, have also been let, making the total of works completed or under construction £313,542. The latter total includes £56,199 for secondary-school buildings, and £65,132 for hospitals, &c., designed for Hospital Boards. In addition to the above totals for buildings designed in Head Office, a large amount of minor additions, alterations and repairs, and general maintenance of public buildings has been carried out by District Engineers, and a considerable quantity of furniture and fittings has been manufactured in the Public Works workshops for various Government Departments. New Zealand materials and manufactures have been used, except where the use of imported material was unavoidable, with generally satisfactory results. Competition for Government contracts has been keen, with prices generally showing a slight downward tendency, and the standard of workmanship has been satisfactory. The following is a schedule of the works carried out during the year : — Post-offices. Whangarei District. —A new post-office has been erected at Paihia. Repairs and renovations have been carried out to twenty-two post-offices. Auckland District.—Extensive additions in brick and concrete have been carried out to the automatic-telephone exchanges at Hamilton, Remuera, and Mount Eden. New post-offices have been erected at Wellsford, Te Mata, and Kaukapakapa, and a Postmaster's residence built at Waiuku. Contracts have been let for the erection of offices and store and motor-garage and workshops in reinforced concrete at Frankton. Additions and general repairs have been carried out to the Hamilton, Frankton, and Pukekohe Post-offices. A motor-garage, linesman's store, and benzine-store have been erected at Te Aroha, a motor-garage and benzine-store at Helensville, and a motor-garage at Huntly. A contract has been let for additions to the Wellesley Street Post-office, Auckland. Taumarunui District.—General repairs and renovations have been carried out to seventeen postoffices, and a motor-garage has been erected at Taumarunui. Tauranga District. —General repairs and renovations have been carried out to ten post-offices in this district. Gisborne District.—Extensive alterations and additions were completed at a cost of £20,019 to the Gisborne Post-office, and a new residence for the Postmaster was completed at Te Karaka. Repairs and renovations have been carried out to six post-offices. Stratford District.—A new post-office has been erected at Marton, and a contract has been let for the erection of a new post-office at Castlecliff. General repairs and alterations have been carried out to nine other post-offices, &c. Napier District. —A new Postmaster's residence at Porangahau has been completed, and a new store and garage erected at Wairoa. General repairs and renovations have been carried out to twentytwo post-offices. A contract has been entered into and the work of making large additions to the Hastings Post-office is in hand and proceeding satisfactorily. Wellington District.—Contracts for the erection of additions to Courtenay Place Automatic Exchange and Palmerston North Post-office are nearing completion, whilst a new building for the automatic-telephone exchange at Miramax is completed. A new Public Service garage was erected by contract at Pipitea. General repairs and renovations were carried out to five other post-offices, &c. Nelson District. —New exchange buildings in brick at Seddon completed. Additions to the postoffices at Richmond and Murchison completed. A. new linesman's store and garage was erected at Motueka. Alterations and renovations were carried out to post-office at Brightwater. Christchurch District.—A concrete motor-garage and workshops has been added to the Timaru Post-office. General repairs and renovations have been carried out to twenty-four post-offices. Greymouth District. —New post-offices in wood on concrete foundations have been erected at Wallsend and Waiuta. Repairs and renovations have been carried out to fifteen post-offices, &c. Dunedin District.—New post-offices have been erected at Omakau, Oturehua, Outrarn, Poolburn, Portobello, and Ohai. General repairs and renovations have been carried out to thirty other postoffices.