I).—}.

Furthermore, there has this year been more investigation of schemes which were not proceeded with than usual. The cost of all these investigations cannot be changed a-gainst the cost of works which do not proceed, and therefore tend to raise the supervision costs on the works which do proceed. I would like to acknowledge here the loyal assistance and support I have received throughout the year from the staff as a whole. It has been a hard year, and the necessity for selecting for dismissal hundreds of officers, many of whom I have been associated with almost for life, has been very distasteful. In making the reductions efficiency has been the first consideration, but, amongst others, such questions as family responsibilities, eligibility for superannuation or otherwise, have been given due weight.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.- MAINTENANCE. The maintenance of public buildings has been carried out by the District Engineers and their staffs in accordance with proposals and reports prepared in District Offices. Maintenance work is, for more ready reference, included with public-building work reported on by the Government Architect.

PUBLIC-BUILDING WORKS AND ELECTRICAL OPERATIONS. For details of the public-building works and of the operations of hydro-electric enterprises please see separate reports by the Government Architect and the Chief Electrical Engineer. F. W. FURKERT, C.M.G., M.lnst.C.E., M.l.Mech.E., Engineer-in-Chief.

4—D. l.

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