Six power-auger test bores were put down on the sites of proposed extensions to the Port Pirie hospital. The water table was found to stand at a depth of only 2 ft. 3 in. below the natural surface. Whilst the sequence of clay strata passed through was substantially the same for all holes, there was wide variation in the degree of firmness of the strata from place to place. Consistently stiff clay was not encountered until an average depth of 40 ft. had been reached, but in the first four holes the clay was predominantly firm below a depth of about 21 feet. Piling will he necessary and it is suggested that if the piles are driven to a depth of 40 feet, or shallower refusal, selective piling will be adequate, but for shallow piling the piles will need to be grouped to minimise a possible tendency to overtilting.