RAISED FROM SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 5

RAISED FROM SEA.

NEW LANDING GROUND i LINK IN DEFENCE PLANS. A STRATEGIC POSITION. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) XAPIER, this day. A project which is closely related to the Government's aerial defence programme is the development of adequate facilities for aircraft in Xapier, a factor which has been taken into account by Wing-Commander R. A- Cochrane, R~A.F., the British expert, in his investigation of the country's aerodromes. _ Xapier, by reason of its central position on the east coast, i«> looked on as an important point in any scheme which may be finally evolved, and it is understood that, in consequence of a thorough inspection of the locality by Wing-Com-mander Cochrane, extensive changes in the existing plans for the accommodation of aircraft in Napier will be made. Napier was without a landing ground until 1931, when the earthquake raised the countryside generally and, in particular, thrust an area" of some hundreds of acres above sea level. The area in question, which is contiguous to the residential sections of the town, was formerly a large basin, original!v 6et aside for the development of an inner harbour.

Since the earthquake this area has been developed chiefly by the Najiier Aero Club, and hae for the lest rear or two been regularly need by East Coast Airwave in the "operation* of the Xapier-Gisborne commercial service. Large Lagoon Area. An accompanying effect of the earthquake was to raise another area of nearly 8000 acres, adjoining the inner harbour basin and separated from it by an embankment. TTiis larger area, known as the Ahuriri Lagoon, wee raised several feet, but fc. not wholly above sea level, large sections of it still being covered by surface water up to a depth of 12 or 15 inches. The lagoon area has, for the past two years, been under development by the Government for ultimate settlement as email ferme, and the work of draining the surface water has disclosed an area of many hundreds of acres with an excellent surface for use by aircraft. This area has, in fact, been regularlyused ae en emergency ground, both by East Coast Airways* 'planes and by others during the improvement work at the principal ground. Uses For Both Grounds. It is understood now, however, that Wing-Commander Cochrane, as a result of hie inspection, will recommend the development of the emergency ground as the principal aerodrome, relegating the inner harbour basin area to second place. A large eum of money has been spent on the latter area, including some £20,000 spent by the Government during the past year in perfecting the drainage arrangements, but the effect of Mr. Cochrane'* recommendation will not be the abandonment of the area and the loss of the money spent on it, as it ie intended to retain both grounds, each to be developed for separate uses. The larger area on the lagoon will be for regular commercial service and for iu-e when necessary by Air Force 'planes, and as a smaller ground for private flying.