D.—l.

Gisborne District. —Sites have been investigated in the following localities : Ruatoria, Motuhora, Te Araroa, Orete Point. Engineering surveys have been undertaken at Gisborne, Motuhora, and Opoutama. Development-work has been undertaken as follows Gisborne : An extension of 30 acres to the south of the existing field was levelled, topsoiled, and sown in grass. An additional extension to the south of 51 acres, is now in hand by the contractor. Thirty-two chains of transmission line have been buried underground. A temporary radio-transmission station has been installed. Opoutama : An area of 21 acres has been under development to provide an emergency-landing field. Approximately 45,000 square yards of turf were stripped and relaid after levelling, and 10,400 yards of spoil excavated and placed in low areas. The disastrous flood of April caused the temporary suspension of work and placed the field out of use. Napier - Hawke's Bay District. —Preliminary investigations were undertaken at Wairoa. Engineering surveys were carried out at Waipukurau. Development-work has been undertaken as follows Napier Airport: The field was top-dressed with manure and seed. The field is not yet in use, and its future is doubtful. Westshore (Beaches) : A wireless-transmission station has been provided, and the erection of a building to house the receiving and direction finding station is in hand. Minor maintenance-work has been attended to. Hastings : The only work carried out was the top-dressing of the whole flying-field with manure and seed and the spreading of topsoil over a small portion of the rough area. Waipukurau : Out of the total of 105 acres, 101 acres have been completed, but at present only 30 acres are available for use. Dannevirke : No work has been carried out during the year. Mohaka : This field has been maintained as a Government emergency-landing ground. An additional 24 acres were sown in grass. Taumarunui District. —Development-work has been carried out as follows : — Te Kuiti: A new landing strip 880 yards long has been completed and the existing main landing strip extended by 220 yards. 25,000 cubic yards of spoil were excavated and placed during the year. The field available now covers 40 acres. Stratford-Taranaki District. —Investigations for a site at Ratana were undertaken. Developmentwork has been undertaken as follows :— New Plymouth : Work has been in hand on extensions to the existing field. An additional area of 83 acres for flying-field purposes has been levelled, topsoiled, smoothed off, and partly sown in grass, while 44 acres of the existing field have been regraded to conform with it. Approximately 220,000 cubic yards of spoil, including the handling of topsoil, have been excavated and placed, and the work is nearing completion. An area of 16 acres for building and administration purposes is being cleared and levelled. 90 chains of road deviation and 15 chains of access road have been formed, and metalling is in hand. A radio-transmission station has been provided and is in operation, while a building to house the receiving and radio direction-finding station is in course of erection. Stratford : Maintenance-work and the top-dressing of the field with manures has been the only work carried out during the year, and the field is in use. Hawera : No work has been undertaken except the removal of some surrounding obstructions. The field is in use. Wanganui: Extensions and improvements to the field undertaken by the Wanganui City Council with assistance from the employment funds have been completed. Karioi: This field has been developed as a Government emergency-landing ground. 48 acres were ploughed, levelled, and sown down in grass. Wellington District. —Preliminary investigations for sites were carried out at Pahiatua and Eketahuna. Development-work was carried out as follows — Milson (Palmerston North) : The levelling, turfing, and drainage of this field were completed during the year. 1,980 cubic yards of spoil, 210 square chains of turfing, and 4,100 ft. of tile and shingle drains were involved. In addition, 9 acres were mole-drained and approximately 50 acres were topdressed with manures. The bituminous apron was repaired and resealed and a concrete landing circle and name placed, A radio-tansmission station was provided and is in operation. Hood (Masterton) : No further development was undertaken, and the field is in use. Feilding : No further development was undertaken, and the field is in use. Rongotai (Wellington) : This field has been maintained by the Wellington City Council. The Government is erecting a large wooden hangar, and this work is nearing completion. Paraparaumu : Construction proposals were prepared, but work has not yet been put in hand. Nelson District. —Engineering surveys were carried out on a site at Lake Station (Tophouse). Development-work was undertaken as follows : — Nelson Airport: The development of this field is well forward. Approximately 400,000 cubic yards of material were shifted during the year, making a total to date of over 600,000 cubic yards. Approximately 120 acres have been levelled, 81 acres topsoiled, and 63 acres sown down in grass. The stream diversion cut with its stabilizing weirs has been completed, and 52 chains of the access road formed and metalled. Approximately 15 chains of stone-pitching have been completed on the estuar-ial boundary of the field, and levelling for two radio stations has been carried out. A radiotransmission station has been provided and is in operation, while the building to house the receiving and direction-finding station is already erected. Stoke (Nelson) : This field has been maintained by the Department pending the completion of Nelson Airport.

71