H.—l9b

XI

it. . . . At 1\ ft. to 3 ft. below the surface the subsoil becomes free from clay and iron oxide. Water drains with great freedom through the unaltered gravel Probably in ordinary weather the water-level is quite 15 ft. below the surface of the present camp. This statement does not apply to the southernmost group of tents, which are near the area liable to be flooded by the Heretaunga Stream." Mr. Morgan states that the site of the camp is not an unfilled lake, but was filled by the Hutt River with gravel and a smaller proportion of finer material. He adds that his inspection of the Trentham Camp, combined with his own experience of camping, gives him the opinion that the locality, as far as regards the soil and subsoil, is suitable for a military camp, and that while the permeability of the upper portion of the subsoil is only moderate, this drawback can easily be overcome by draining. The small hollows previously mentioned " need to be filled if tents are to be erected in regular rows, and naturally also require filling if built over." He is of opinion that "the mud difficulty has been greatly exaggerated, and can be very easily overcome by a regular system of reading, for which an unlimited supply of gravel is available within the limits of the camp." The evidence of witnesses who have seen camps at Salisbury and elsewhere would indicate that Trentham has been less muddy than those camps. On Mr. Morgan's suggestion we have had the soil analysed by Mr. B. C. Aston. Mr. Morgan has reported on the results, and states that "on the whole the analyses indicate a soil and subsoil suitable for a camp or for settlement. Better localities can be found, but personally I would be quite satisfied with the Trentham Camp site." He adds that the analyses in themselves quite dispose of the contention that the camp is on the site of an ancient swamp. 32. The climate 'of that portion of the Hutt Valley where the camp is situated has been spoken of by all witnesses acquainted with it as being healthy and bracing. The keenest critic of the camp—Dr. De Lautour—in his evidence, spoke of the climate as a very good one, and said that there was nothing to prevent a hygienic camp being established at Trentham under proper conditions and regulations, and that there was nothing in the site to cause preventable diseases. In confirmation of the character of the climate we have the fact that a considerable portion of the valley is largely occupied by the country residences of many Wellington citizens. There is evidence that under certain atmospheric conditions fogs arise over the lower-lying portions of the ground adjacent to the Heretaunga Stream. Those fogs are of a transitory character, and have caused no inconvenience to the camp from a military point of view. There is no evidence to show that the fogs have affected the health of the troops. The Public Works Department have now in hand the clearing and deepening of this stream, and this, with the consequent drainage of the lower-lying lands, will result in reducing the liability to fogs. The Director of the Dominion Meteorological Office (the Rev. Mr. Bates) reports that records from Silverstream or Trentham show that the rainfall is 20 to 25 per cent, greater than at Wellington, the average of which is a little under 50 in. He states, according to his evidence as corrected, that frosts are occasionally very severe at Trentham. The winds are generally from northwest and squally. 33. The conditions of the site are, in his opinion, very favourable for a permanent standing camp, though the flatness of the river-valley he considers a disqualification. (Note. —There is a fall of 20 ft. to the mile towards the Heretaunga Stream.) He further states that neither the soil nor the climate of Trentham can be blamed for the sickness there. It is, he -says, " Quite a healthy place, and probably more invigorating than Wellington." 34. There has been evidence to show that Trentham has been dusty during the summer, but there is none to show that it is more dusty than any other camp might well be. With the completion of the works of the roadmaking which are now being executed -there is every reason to believe that both the dust of summer and the mud of winter will be materially reduced, and with due care neither ought to be in any way objectionable.

Mr. Aston's anlaysos of soil.

Climate.

Fogs.

Rainfall

Rev. Mr. Bates's opinion.

Dust and mud.