EXTENDING WAIOURU CAMP

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 32, 19 July 1940, Page 7

EXTENDING WAIOURU CAMP

Work By Day And Night EMPLOYMENT FOR 1500 MEN Work at Waiouru military camp, which is being extended to provide accommodation for several thousand territorials, is progressing rapidly. The camp, which is set in the midst of nearly 100,000 acres of rolling tussockcovered country at an altitude of 2000 feet, is 22 miles north of Taihape. z The scheme will absorb the camp built last year, and many buildings will either be pulled down or shifted to other sites to make room for a large parade ground, which is being prepared by bulldozers, mechanical shovels and graders. Hutments, administrative quarters and cookhouses will be placed in separate areas surrounding the original camp. This also ap plies to the church, picture theatre, and canteens. It is estimated that more than 7,000,000 feet of timber will be used in the building scheme. Much concrete will be used for cookhouses and stores and for making piles for buildings. The Public Works Department has charge of the general scheme of preparing grounds, the installation of a water supply, drainage, and sewerage. Already a tunnel is being driven to carry distance from the camp. The water supply will be drawn from the Waiouru Stream. A mechanical digger is engaged making cross drains to connect with the main drain. A belt of tall pinus insignis trees on the southern side of the camp has been removed by bulldozers to be chopped up for firewood and also to make room for extending the camp. Miles of Roads. Bulldozers, brought from various oinos Jfuuj opdos u o) jomos uiuui oqj parts of the North Island, and giant scoops are working day and night levelling the area for building sites, roads and a parade ground. Besides the headlights of * mechanical appliances, floodlights are used in some quarters for facilitating work at night. The scheme provides for miles of reading. The roads are being signposted with names appropriate to the district, such as Ruapehu Road and Ngauruhoe Crescent. The Public Works Department depot is growing- daily. It contains large stocks of corrugated iron, piping, timber and drain pipes. The staff includes engineers, clerks, draughtsmen and surveyors. Much of the survey work and the taking of levels has yet to be done. Lorries ply to and from the camp night and day, the bulk of the carting being done from Waiouru railway station. which has suddenly become an extremely busy centre. Every goods train has its complement of fully-laden trucks to leave at Waiouru. Unloading is carried out during the day and night. ' The camp has a staff of 18 Army men who carry out various duties, in- ' eluding cooking. These men receive military rates of pay and Public Works men receive award rates for outside work. Carpenters employed by he coni tractors receive £1 a day. Work is • carried on six days of the week and nine hours a day. Yesterday the complement of men reached 500, but more men arrive daily. 1 It is estimated that the Public Works . Department will employ 500 men and i that the building contractors wi!l have at least 1000 men when the building - scheme is in full swing.