PLANT RESEARCH

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 February 1938, Page 5

PLANT RESEARCH

NEW BUILDING PLANNED. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, February fl. Tenders for a new laboratory and administrative building at the Government Plant Research Station at Mount Albert are now being called by the Public Works Department. It is expected that construction will begin next month, and that the building will be ready for use next, spring. The building will he two storeys, in reinforced concrete, and it will contain floor space of 5000 feet. It. will have 35 rooms, and it will accommodate a staff of 35. It will be air-con-ditioned throughout and the ' rooms will be built to specifications that will make them insect-proof. The drawing of the plans ha's lasted for six months, every endeavour being made not only to produce a well-proportion-ed building, but also to embody the latest ideas for the purposes of the station. It is considered that the station, when completed, will be the best equipped of its kind in the Dominion.

The land on which the building will stand and largely overlook comprises just, more than 1G acres, containing four types of soil, these being clay, true volcanic, semi-volcanic, and swamp land. On the lower slopes are 2000 fruit trees, which have been planted since the land' was acquired in December, 193 G. Much other planting hasi been carried out. The staff has been working under the handicap of lack of proper accommodation and the new biulding will allow considerable development of its activities. .