HOBSONVILLE BASE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 12

HOBSONVILLE BASE

PROGRESS OF EXTENSION WORK. FACILITIES FOR NEW PLANES. Auckland, Nov. 28. Extensive improvements at the Hobsonville air base in consequence of the decision of the Defence Department to develop this area as one of the major bases of the Dominion are now being carried on with all possible speed. These improvements consist mainly, of level* ling and extension of the landing ground to give a better and longer runway for the handling of the larger machines which the department intends to use m the near future, and the provision of hangar accommodation and housing for the enlarged staff which will be necessary to maintain ana fly the new machines. .. x w The first of the heavier aircraft to be acquired by the department are eight Vickers VildebeeSte bombing planes, four of which are expected at Hobsonville before the end of the year. All tire new work at Hobsonville is being done under the control and supervision of Officers of the Public Works Department. Excellent progress is being made with the levelling of the landing ground, on which over 100. men drawn from the unemployment register are engaged. , It is estimated that the present work will add about 35 acres of even ground to the runway, thus almost doubling its area, but this could be greatly increased by further development. Other work in progress is the erection of three two-storey residences for additional officers, A tender has been let for the erection of ten six-roomed cottages for the accommodation of married airmen, which are to be built on land acquired by the Defence Department for possible extensions to the base. The cost of the ten cottages will be in the vicinity of £lO,OOO. Another structure for which tenders have been received is a large barrack building for the accommodation of single airmen who are now housed in temporary hutments. The barracks will probably cost £lO,OOO or more, and will be placed between the aeroplane hangars and the officers’ -residences. Tenders are now being called for the erection of an additional hangar to be placed on the north-west comer of the base. This is to be 150 feet by 150 feet.