D.—l

In addition to the aerodrome work involving actual preparation of the flying field, this Department is also supervising and actually preparing the designs for the laying-out of buildings, roading, sewerage, drainage, water and power supply, in connection with many civil aerodromes throughout the country, and in all cases is providing advice on the best design that an aerodrome should take to suit not only aviation requirements, but the transport needs of any given locality. Strip Maps.—ln conjunction with the Lands Department, arrangements have been made for the preparation of aviation strip maps covering the entire country. These maps will embody the bestfeatures of aviation maps published anywhere in the world, and the first sections should be available towards the end of the present year or early in 1936. New Zealand Air Pilot. —Arrangements are also in hand, in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Branch of the Defence Department, for the early issue of a New Zealand Air Pilot on similar lines to the Air Pilot of Great Britain. The aerodrome section of this is at present in course of compilation, and it is anticipated that the first issue will be available towards the end of the present year. Details of the aerodrome works at present in hand in the various Public Works districts are as follows : — Royal New Zealand Air Force. Auckland District: Hobsonville Aerodrome. —During the year construction work has been commenced on the enlargement and improvement of the flying-field to enable it to accommodate the increased use of land planes at this station ; regrading operations have covered some 16 acres, involving the shifting of 47,070 cubic yards of spoil. Cottages for ten married airmen and residences for three married officers have also been commenced during the period. Towards the end of the year single men's quarters capable of accommodating sixty airmen were commenced, and are now nearing completion. The new land plane hangar 120 ft. by 85 ft., with a clear door opening 20 ft. by 120 ft., is now nearing completion. In addition to the above structures, extensive sewerage, water-supply, and electrical reticulation schemes have been commenced. A detailed survey showing the exact location of all buildings and services has also been put in hand. The total number of men employed as at the 30th June was 174. Christchurch District: Wigram Aerodrome.—During the year the regrading of the flying-field has been completed, and the area available, combined with the standard of gradients and drainage adopted, make this the finest flying-field of any aerodrome in the Dominion. The regrading, roading, and treeplanting in the residential area to the west of Washbourne Road have also been completed, and the sites for sixteen married officers' residences and twenty-five married airmen's cottages have been laid out and planted. A site has also been prepared for a barracks for single airmen, and the design of water-supply, sewerage, and electrical reticulation schemes to serve these buildings is in hand. Plans for the single airmen's quarters and a new residence for the O.C. of the Station have been completed. In the technical block, to the east of Washbourne Road, two new land plane hangars 180 ft. by 90 ft., with a clear door opening 180 ft. by 25 ft., have been put in hand, and are approximately half completed. Plans have also been prepared for a new workshop block. Civil Aerodromes and Emergency Landing-fields. Whangarei District. —Surveys have been carried out at Whangarei, Waipapakauri, and Waitangi. Construction work has been authorized at Waipapakauri. Auckland District. —Surveys have been carried out at Mangere, Thames, and Great Barrier Island. Construction work at Mangere has been authorized. A survey covering the new aerodrome at Rukuhia (Hamilton) has also been completed. Tauranga - Bay of Plenty District. —Surveys have been carried out at Taupo, Rotorua, and Tauranga. Construction work at Taupo is complete, and the aerodrome has been licensed. At Tauranga a commencement has been made on the improvement work, but owing to lack of finance the work is at present held up. Rotorua Aerodrome : Using unemployed labour, the diversion of Alum Stream has been completed for a total length of 45 chains, and, in addition to the clearing of the site, 4,852 cubic yards of earthwork have been moved in the regrading operations. Taumarunui - King Country District. —Surveys have been carried out at Chateau Tongariro, Manunui, and Te Kuiti. Construction work involving extensive drainage at Te Kuiti is in hand. Stratford - Taranaki District.—Surveys have been carried out at Hawera, New Plymouth, and Stratford. Very extensive improvements, covering approximately 42 acres, have been completed on the Bell Block Aerodrome at New Plymouth. During the period, an average of 175 men have been employed. Surveys for suggested sites at Hawera have been undertaken. A site has now been selected and authority for the construction approved. Extensive drainage and regrading work has been undertaken at Stratford Aerodrome. Approximately forty men are now engaged, and the work is well in hand. Gisborne - Poverty Bay District. —Surveys have been carried out at Gisborne and for an emergency ground in the vicinity of Motuhora. So far no construction work has been undertaken at Gisborne, although ample unemployed labour is available for the work. Napier - Hawke's Bay District. —Surveys have been completed at Napier, Hastings, and Dannevirke, and construction work put in hand at the two latter places.

48