D.—l

XXV

Seacliff: A large and important work, comprising a new kitchen, laundry, and stores block, is in hand, and good progress is being made. Modern equipment for botlr kitchen, laundry, and store is being installed, and will greatly facilitate the working of the institution. Additions have been made to the Nurses' Home, and a residence erected for the Assistant Medical Officer. Hospital Institutions. The following works were carried out to institutions administered by this Department:— St. Helen's, Auckland : Hot-water service renewed. Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer : The old electric power-house was dismantled and re-erected elsewhere as storerooms. A new boiler-house and coal-dump are nearing completion, and the machinery, &c, is being assembled. A start was made with the new Nurses' Home, a two-story building, to accommodate upwards of sixty nurses. The stables were removed and re-erected on a new site. Extensive maintenance works, repairs, and renovations were carried out to various institutions as required. Agricultural Buildings. The amount expended last year was £2,863, a sum considerably less than usual. The principal works carried out were a new residence for the Manager at Ruakura Farm, further work on the plant and machinery at the Green Island (Dunedin) poison-mixing depot, and additional buildings at the experimental farms at Galloway (Otago), Puwera (Auckland), and Waimaunga (West Coast), and at the poultry-station at Wallaceville. Education. Considerable progress was made during the year in providing for increase of school population and the continual movement manifested between district and district. The Department is still pursuing its policy of replacing rented accommodation by permanent buildings, with the result that the allocation for rent is steadily decreasing. Further, the policy of making special provision for small country districts has been continued. Among the larger primary schools completed during the year may be mentioned Turu Turu Road, near Hawera, and Linwood Avenue Fresh-air School, Christchurch. The Terrace End School, Palmerston North, has been partially rebuilt ; also the Kakaramea School, Wanganui district. Secondary departments were provided at Foxton, Ohakune, and Te Aroha. The Rongotai Boys' College, Wellington, and the Marlborough Junior High School were completed. A hostel for the Girls' High School at New Plymouth was also erected. Some of the more important of additions to existing schools were Point Chevalier and the new Normal School, Auckland City ; New Brighton, Christchurch ; Timaru Boys' High School; Hutt Valley High School; and Waitaki High School. The Memorial Hall at Wellington College, towards which a substantial grant was provided by the Old Boys' Association, was also completed. A heavy building programme is at present being undertaken, including the Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North ; a new infant department and remodelling of the main building at Hawera ; additions to Wanganui East; a new school at Fry's Lane, Hutt Valley; additions to Somerfield, Christchurch ; remodelling of Tokomairiro, Otago ; rebuilding of infant department, Rangiora, Canterbury ; new workshops at the Auckland Technical School; and additions to Hamilton and Palmerston North Technical Schools.

iv—D. 1.