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APPENDIX C. ANNUAL EEPORT ON BUILDINGS BY THE GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT. The Government Architect to the Hon. the Minister of 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, 1928 : — During the period plans were prepared for seventy-eight new works, of a total estimated value of £751,060, of which thirty-three contracts, to the amount of £96,699, have been let. In addition, thirty-three contracts, to the amount of £172,570, for buildings designed prior to the 30th June, 1927, have also been let, making the total of works completed or under construction £269,269. The latter total includes £48,719 for secondary-school buildings, and £51,602 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 downward tendency, and the standard of workmanship has been satisfactory. The following is a schedule of the works carried out during the year: —■ Viceregal Residences. Auckland District. —General maintenance has been carried out and a new hot-water service provided. Wellington District. —General maintenance has been carried out and the cottages have been renovated. Post-offices. Whangarei District. —Repairs and renovations have been carried out to thirty post-offices. Auckland District. —Extensive additions in brick were completed at Wellesley Street, and renovations carried out to the old portion. New post-offices in. wood were erected at Leigh and Te Mata, and additions carried out at Putaruru, Ohinewai, Papakura, and Warkworth. A new residence was completed at Waiuku, and a contract let for additions at Walton. At .Frankton the erection of new offices, store, motor-garage, and workshop was completed, and renovations and repairs carried out to a number of post-offices in the district. Taumarunui District. —Renovations and repairs were carried out to thirteen post-offices. Tauranga District. —Renovations and repairs were carried out to nine post-offices. Gisborne District. —A Postmaster's residence in wood has been erected at Te Karaka. A storeroom, and garage are being built at Tokomaru Bay. Repairs and renovations have been carried out to eight post-offices. Stratford District. —At Waverley a new two-storey post-office in brick and concrete is in course of erection, and a new office in brick and concrete was completed at CastleclifL At Hawera a contract has been let for very extensive additions to the Post-office. A new post-office in wood has been erected at Uruti. Considerable alterations and renovations were carried out to Wanganui Chief Post-office, and general maintenance-works carried out to other post-offices as required. Napier District. —Extensive additions in brick have been made to Hastings Post-office, the old portion being remodelled. A garage and store have been erected. Renovations and repairs have been carried out to fourteen post-offices. Wellington District. —A new automatic telephone exchange has been erected in brick at Miramar, and a new wing added to the Courtenay Place Exchange. A large addition in brick has been made to Palmerston North Post-office ; a new garage erected at Foxton ; the electrical change-over to the 230 voltage completed in the Wellington City and suburban post-offices, and repairs and renovations carried out to same. In addition, repairs, &c, have been carried out to four post-offices in the district. Nelson District. —Repairs and renovations have been carried out to nine post-offices. Christchurch District. —Renovations and repairs have been carried, out to sixteen post-offices in the district, and the electrical installations have been overhauled in eleven offices. Dunedin District. —Repairs and renovations have been carried out to thirty post-offices. Greymouth District. —Repairs and renovations have been carried out to fourteen post-offices. Courthouses. Whangarei District. —Repairs have been carried out at Dargaville and Kawakawa. Auckland District. —Renovations have been carried out at Hamilton, and new furniture supplied. Gisborne District. —A number of maintenance-works were carried out. Napier Difirkt.- -Renovations and repairs have been carried out at Napier and Hastings.