Rival Claims To Use Of Cass Bay

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 1

Rival Claims To Use Of Cass Bay

The use of the former armament depot at Cass Bay, in Lyttelton Harbour —56} acres of land and buildings—is being sought by both the Department of Scientific and Indus- , trial Research and the Navy League Sea Cadets. But in spite of “a strong recommendation and blessing” i by the Navy Office that the

Sea Cadets have the area for use as a headquarters, it is expected that the D.S.I.R. will take official control. The department has already occupied part of the area since 1962, for experimental work on upper-atmosphere research—which has involved the erection of a giant, Vshaped aerial, the arms of which extend up each side of the valley. Cass Bay was chosen for this experimental work because its topography enabled this unusual type of aerial to be built. The topography, of Cass Bay, with its deep water, is also a big attraction to the Navy League Sea Cadets. The I area is regarded as an excel- * lent one for initiative and leaidership training possible I only in areas of open country.

It was impossible to invest the H.M.N.Z.S. Pegasus establishment—the present meeting place for the Sea Cadets—with the proper “shipboard atmosphere,” said LieutenantCommander J. M. Norrie, R.N.Z.N.V.R., in the annual report of the Sea Cadets, recently. “We feel that Cass Bay has all the features we require—adequate buildings, power, water, sewerage, and a boatstorage shed," he said. “The Navy Office has given its strong recommendation and blessing that the area be made available for use as our Sea Cadet headquarters,” said Commander Norrie. Although the D.S.I.R. is now expected to assume official control of Cass Bay, the Sea Cadets could possibly have

the use of buildings there, in co-operation with the department. “We would have no objection to giving the Navy League Sea Cadets the use of some of the buildings which we do not need, if this does not interfere with our research work,” said Mr A. C. Stanbury, principal scientific officer of the D.5.1.R., yesterday. Of the eight substantial buildings at the Cass Bay reserve, the D.S.I.R. was using three, said Mr Stanbury. The building of main interest to the Sea Cadets—the former caretaker’s house—was not being used by the D.S.I.R. It is expected that official control of the Cass Bay reserve will be invested in the D.S.I.R. soon.