D.—l.

Porirua : General renovations throughout were undertaken. Various concrete anrl cement roof-ornaments were removed as a precaution against earthquake. Nelson : New cow-byres erected. Stoke : Transmission-line completed. Poorman's Valley water-supply scheme completed and connected to 2 in. main supply to buildings. New villas completed. Sunnyside : Several verandas were glassed in, thus increasing the sleepingaccommodation. Hokitika : A new villa was erected in wood, and will accommodate thirtyeight patients. Electric light was extended to the farm buildings, water-service pipes were extended and additional fire-hydrants installed. Seacliff : The old kitchen was converted into a bathhouse, and other alterations were carried out. Waitati: Sundry repairs were carried out. Health and Hospital Institutions. The net capital expenditure under this heading was £3,316, being a reduction of £14,022 on the previous year. The children's health camp at Raukawa was completed, and is now occupied. The sum of £1,646 was expended on demolishing Napier Hospital, damaged by earthquake, and clearing the site. It is proposed to rebuild and equip the Nurses' Home at St. Helens, Christchurch, which was destroyed by fire in May last. Education. The expenditure on the erection of school buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences was considerably reduced during the year, the expenditure for the financial year being £259,149, as against £501,344 for the year ended 31st March, 1931. Owing to the limited funds available, only the most urgent requirements are being considered, and no doubt when the Dominion returns to normal there will be increased demands to overtake arrears of work. A summary of the more important works carried out is as follows : — The rebuilding of the Wellington Boys' College, Te Aro Main School (Wellington), Takaka and Nelson Central (Nelson), and Blackball (Canterbury) was completed, and additional accommodation has been provided at Christchurch West (Canterbury), Greymouth, and Feilding Technical Schools. Hostels were completed at the Nelson Boys' College and the Wanganui Technical School, and further accommodation was erected at the New Plymouth Boys' High School Hostel. Large works are in progress at New Plymouth Central (destroyed by fire); additions at Kurow (Otago), Oxford (Canterbury), Palmerston Central (Wanganui). Rangiora High School, Nelson Girls' College, Takapuna Grammar School, Otahuhu Junior High School, and at the Petone Technical School. Progress has been made with the restoration of schools damaged in the Hawke's Bay earthquake, schools having been rebuilt in wood at Hastings' West, Napier Central, and Nelson Park. The reconditioning and strengthening of the Hastings Pligh School was completed. During the year under review the sum of £7,770 was spent out of the Government Fire Insurance Fund to replace and repair school buildings and residences destroyed or damaged by fire. The following table shows for the year ended 31st March, 1932, the net amount expended on new buildings, additions, sites, and teachers' residences : — £ Public schools .. .. .. .. .. .. 124,944 Secondary schools .. .. .. .. .. 63, 649 Technical schools .. .. .. .. .. 44,306 Training colleges .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 ; 228 Native schools .. .. .. .. .. .. 14,433 Schools for mentally backward .. .. .. .. 199 Child-welfare institutions .. .. .. .. .. 714 Kindergartens .. .. .. .. .. .. 54 Massey Agricultural College .. .. .. .. 9,622 Total .. .. .. .. .. £259,149

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