DIGGING TRENCHES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24790, 15 December 1941, Page 4

DIGGING TRENCHES

START AT THE OCTAGON Hie city engineer (Mr S. G. Secular), who is controller of works, water, and utilities under, the Emergency Precautions Services, will make a start this morning to dig trenches to provide shelters in the event of the city being bombed from the air or the sea. The first locality to be dealt with will be the Octagon, and operations will be carried on in other districts in due course. A survey of the surroundings of Dunedin shows that there are many favourable localities which can be used as dispersal areas. These areas are on the slopes of the hills at Roslyn, Kaikorai, etc., facing away from the sea, and if there arc gullies the protection is improved. Mr Secular explains that if there are trees in the vicinity of an area that is all to the good, as they form a screen from the observer of any raiding bomber. The question of the best way to deal with the areas in the south end of the city is now being considered by Mr Scoular, and here there is a difficulty in the cutting of trenches, as water is found at short depths. Other plans for the flat are being investigated, and these will be put into effect as early as possible. It will, therefore, be understood that the E.P.S. is handling the position with a full consideration of ail possible emergencies and with a realisation that nothing shall be left to cnance.