MODERN MILITARY CAMP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20324, 3 August 1929, Page 14

MODERN MILITARY CAMP

HOPUHOPU ESTABLISHMENT.

COMPLETION OF WORK

TOTAL COST ABOUT £130,000

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT] HAMILTON, Friday

After almost fivo years spent oil eonslruction work Ihe Public Works Department is finally handing over (he military camp at Ilop.uhopu, near Ngaruawaliia, to the Defence Department. At present under 30 men are employed in completing minor details of the work and most of these are expected to leave within 10 days. Formerly a stretch of tall gorse and small drains, this area has been converted into the most up-ttj-dato training camp in New Zealand. Roads have been laid down and two private railway sidings constructed. The total expenditure on, the undertaking has been about .£130,000.

During the past three years construction work at the camp has been carried out under the direction of Mr. B. (). Bartlott, foreman for the Public Works Department. Tho maximum number of workmen employed during the period was 80, though at one stage during the first two yeais 120 men were working on tho area. One of the last tasks performed by the workmen was the planting of a belt of trees along the fence adjoining the railway line. The bolt is 100 ft. deep and consists of cyprus, lawsoniana and mixed gums.

Though originally intended to hold 5000 men, the camp has at present permanent, buildings to bouse 2000 only. There are over 30 buildings in concrete, ranging from a smal. oil store to two huge double mess-huts, each capable of holding 1000 men. Between these huts are situated the cookhouse and the grocery store. These were among the first buildings to be completed and have been in uso for several years.

The general stores, completed over two years ago, arc the most extensive in New Zealand. At present they arc occupied by the ordnance department, which established its headquarters for the northern command at Hopuhopu in the middle of last year. Formerly the ordnanco department was situated at Auckland but the accommodation there was found to be. insufficient. The equipment has been systematically stored in a manner that was not possible in Auckland. Complete equipment for uniforming and arming a large body of men is contained in the mobilisation store and all classes of steelwarc arc availablo for instant use.

Among the last few buildings to be erected wero the drying-house, combined bath-liouse and engine-room, and the ammunition depot for small arms. Both the drying-house and the bath-house liresent the latest, ideas in facilities of their type, and are very commodious. There are numerous other buildings, including an officer's residence, six staff cottages, single men's quarters, the ordnance office, workshops and vehicle store. A large wooden hut brought from Trcntham camp in sections about four mouths ago and reconstructed on the grounds, has been fitted up as a permanent hospital. During the past week workmen have been attending to minor construction details of the laboratory, which is situated at the end of the magazine chain. Concealed behind a long hill between tho camp and the river the magazines provide ample accommodation for large, stores of explosives. They arc constructed at intflvais along a, light railway and are all of modern double-wall design.