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Item No. 25-Re-construction of Governor's Peak Residence.

22. The present quarters at Mountain Lodge provide altogether inadequate accommodation and are in a dilapidated condition. It is desirable that an improved residence should be constructed as soon as a site is decided on.

Item No. 26-Quarters of Superintendent, Botanical and Afforestation Department.

23. The sum of $12,000 was included in the Estimates of 1889 and 1890. Public tenders have been obtained for a building practically based on a design left by my predecessor. The lowest tender is about $19,000 and as some extras are not included I have inserted the sum of $22,500 in the Estimates. Items Nos. 27 and 28 are fully described in C.S.O. 1388 and C.S.O.

90 respectively.

Item No. 29-Extension of the Government Offices and construction of New

Law Courts.

.

135

90

24. I have received instructions (C.S.O. ) to study this question with a view, if possible, of including the cost of the necessary buildings in the Estimates of 1891. I have explained, however, in a previous communication that the subject is a very large one, and involves a vast amount of detail. It is quite impossible for me at present to submit any definite proposals. As however the question is very important, I have inserted an amount in the Estimates, rather with the view of calling attention to the fact (of which there can I think be no reasonable doubt) that it will be necessary, at no remote period, to provide a considerable sum for the purpose of furnishing adequate accommodation for the Government Depart- ments and the Law Courts. The Colony has out-grown what was thought, and probably was sufficient, years ago. The loss of time and prejudicial effect on public business owing to the offices of the Attorney General and Crown Solicitor, the Land Office and the Treasury, being removed so far from the Chief Secretary and the Surveyor General are very serious. I propose to provide accommodation for these offices, and for the Law Courts, in buildings to be erected in the vicinity of the present offices. It is hoped that the Military Authorities will give up the disused Murray Battery for the purpose. This site is sufficiently central for all purposes, and commanding as it does the Queen's Road and the Harbour, is, in my opinion, unrivalled as regards its capability for architectural effect. The new buildings erected on such a site should be worthy of the Colony. In the hope that something may be decided, I have inserted the sum of $150,000 in the Estimates, but this must be regarded only as a very rough approximation.

Item No. 30.

25. The sum of $12,000 has been inserted to provide for the Improvement of Queen's Road West, described in C.S.O. 11o, now under the consideration of the Government.

Item No. 31-Stores Account.

26. The sum of $25,000 has been provided to permit of the recommendation of the Stores Committee being carried into effect. This recommendation is that instead of Stores being charged against each work or building, they should be purchased and charged to Stores Account. When issued to any work that work would be debited, and the Stores Account credited, with the value of the Stores. The sum asked for is not therefore an item of expenditure, but simply an advance on account of future works.

27. If these works now proposed are carried out, and allowance be made for others for which the necessity will probably arise from time to time, it would appear that it will be necessary, within the next few years, to expend on Public Works a sum little short of two millions of dollars. If to this be added the expenditure proposed by Mr. CHADWICK on Sewerage and Water-supply ($750,000) we arrive at a total of $2,750,000. If this be divided over five years the average annual