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At the end of the year the following works were .in progress: Auckland East and Auckland West (erection of Postmasters' residences); Awarua Radio (erection of six staff residences) ; Balclutha (erection of post-office building) ; Cheviot (erection of new carrier-telephone building) ; Dunedin (erection of armboring depot) ; Feilding (erection of post-office building) ; Greymouth (conversion of residence into transit flats) ; Greytown (erection of Postmaster's residence) ; Kaitaia (alterations to store-garage building) ; Karamea (erection of Postmaster's residence) ; Kilbirnie (erection of automatic-telephone-exchange building) ; Moray Place (erection of Postmaster's residence) ; Musick Radio (erection of four additional transit flats by utilizing the old post'-office building from Papakura Military Camp) ; Naenae and Nelson (erection of automatic-telephone-exchange buildings) ; Oamaru (conversion of existing residence to provide two transit flats) ; Opunake, Ponsonby, Remuera, South Dunedin, and Wellesley Street (erection of Postmasters'residences) ; and "Whangarei (erection of Chief Postmaster's residence). A contract was let early in 1949 for the erection of a new post-office building at Hokitika. STORES The value of stores and equipment ordered during the year was as follows, the figures for the previous year being given for comparative purposes 1947-48. 1948-49. For Post and Telegraph Department— £ £ From suppliers in New Zealand . . 943,039 1,322,870 Ordered for supply from overseas .. 2,469,697 . 4,106,358 For other Departments— From suppliers in New Zealand .. 519,578 627,476 Ordered for supply from overseas .. 119,956 62,204 The above amounts represent actual or estimated costs, including freight, Customs duty, and sales tax, where applicable The value of the stocks, including stores on-cost, held in the Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington storekeeping districts at the end of the year, as compared with that of the stocks held on the 31st March, 1948, was as follows: 31st March, 31st March, District. 1948. 1949. £ £ Auckland . . . . .. 482,113 828,426 Christchurch . . . . 236,520 398,600 Dunedin . . . . .. 188,706 240,273 Wellington . . .. . . 1,747,063 2,310,360 £2,654,402 £3,777,659 DEPARTMENTAL MOTOR-VEHICLES Strength op Fleet The fleets of the Public Service Garages, which are administered by the Post Office, total 1,405 vehicles—9o6 trucks and vans and 499 cars. The mileage travelled last year was 10,865,000. Cars averaged 9,650 miles each, and trucks and vans 6,550 miles each, for the year.

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