D.—l.

APPENDIX C.

ANNUAL REPORT OF BUILDINGS BY THE GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT» The Government Architect to the Hon. Minister of Public Works. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the following report on the activities of the Architectural Branch for the year ended 30th June, 1936. During the period plans were prepared for fifty-eight buildings of an estimated total value of £1,115,000, of which eighteen contracts, totalling £93,356, have been let. Fifteen other contracts of the value of £123,765 for buildings designed prior to 30th June, 1935, have also been let, making the total contracts let during the year £217,121. A considerable amount of detail work has been done in connection with Dunedin Chief Post-office, which is nearing completion, the Government Life Insurance Building, Wellington, and other works under construction. Numerous plans and specifications submitted to the Local Government Loans Board have been examined and reported upon. The utmost economy, consistent with the factor of maintenance and regard to the nature and importance of the buildings, has been observed. Building prices, particularly for timber structures, have hardened, but there has been competition resulting in satisfactory contracts. British or New Zealand materials and manufactures have been used almost exclusively, and the standard of locally made articles has been very satisfactory. Appended is a schedule of works, which includes maintenance work and minor contracts prepared in the various district offices: — Vice-regal. Auckland. —Extensive alterations and repairs were effected to the vice-regal residence. Post-offices. Whangarei.—Renovations and repairs were undertaken to twenty-two buildings, renovations and additions were carried out to one building, and renovations and alterations were effected to five buildings. Auckland. —Extensive alterations and additions to the Cambridge Post-office are in hand. A garage in reinforced concrete at Stanley Street is approaching completion. The demolition of the Shortland Street Post-office is nearly finished. A new residence was erected for the Postmaster at Wellsford, and additions were made to the post-office. Repairs and renovations were carried out to fifty-eight buildings. Taumarunui. —Renovations and repairs were attended to at seventeen buildings. Tauranga.—Renovations and repairs were effected to fourteen buildings, including alterations and additions to the post-office at Rotorua. Gisborne. —Renovations and repairs were dealt with at eight buildings. Stratford. —A new post-office was erected at Toko. Renovations and repairs were effected at fifteen buildings, and alterations and additions made to five. Napier. A new post-office was erected at Porangahau. Renovations and repairs were carried out at twenty-one buildings, and alterations and additions made to two. Wellington.—A two-story concrete post-office was erected at Petone ;an additional story in wood was erected on the General Post Office building at Wellington, and extensive alterations made to the subdivision of the third and fourth floors. At Pahiatua a new post-office and a residence for the Postmaster, both in concrete, are being erected. Nelson. —Renovations and repairs were effected at eleven buildings. Christchurch —A new post-office was built at Albury, and a carrier-equipment building erected at Kaikoura. The new post-office at Rangiora, a two-story concrete structure, is very nearly completed. Renovations and repairs were carried out at forty-two various buildings, and alterations made to five. Dunedin. —The new chief post-office is nearing completion, the stone facing is nearly completed, bronze windows are in position and glazed, and all interior partitions, joinery, and other fittings are well advanced. Renovations and repairs were undertaken at thirty-one buildings, and additions made to four. Greymouth.—A garage was built at Hokitika, and renovations and repairs were effected to seventeen buildings. Courthouses. Whangarei. —Renovations and repairs were effected at one building ; buildings at Mangawai and Waipu were sold and removed from site. Auckland.—An extensive addition of two stories and basement was completed for the Law Library at Auckland. Renovations and repairs were carried out at eleven Courthouses. Taumarunui. —Additions were made to the Taumarunui Courthouse for a law library. Tauranga.—Renovations and repairs 'were effected |to one Courthouse. Gisborne.—Renovations and repairs were carried out to one Courthouse.

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