STEADY GROWTH OF WAIURU DISTRICT

Chronicle (Levin), 31 January 1947, Page 3

STEADY GROWTH OF WAIURU DISTRICT

- Press As&iciatimi

Bv Telecircivh—

WANGANUI, J a.n. Wairouru, once a wastc area of tus.soc'k land, is steadily bocoming a very important contre of population in the North Island. Its expansion is due to tlie decision to retain there a permanent military canip and a naval ra'dio station and to establish a large pernianent Public Works eamp. The area may possibly be used for liydro-electri-cal development and there is to be an exlension of forestry unde'rtakings in the region. 1 Plans are already in hand to provide living cpiarters for married soldiers at Ihe military camp. Treasury's approval to tlie building of nine flats is awaited. Because it believes the area will develop as antieipated, the Wanganui Education Board, at its meeting today, decided, on the recommendation 0!' its senior inspector (Mr. H. G. Johnston) and the arehitect (Mr. L. S. Barsanti), to recommend to the Bepartment that a school be establislied at Waiouru, provided a disused Air Porce building, which, ultimately, will be big enough for two l'oonis, can be obtained. It was reported that at present tliert are 15 children of school age in Wai ouru, and they are transported dail} to Hihitahi, some 15 miles away. In the days when railway services were uormai this transport was satisfactory, bul lalterly, because of restrictions on raii travel, Army transport has been used and it has not been altogetlier satis t'aetofy, the board was told. Tlie child ren miss live hours' tuition a weelc be eause of the distance they have to travel. Waiouru military camp was one of the most up-to-date in New Zealand during tlie wai', and was used iu thc l later stages for accommodatiug arin oured units, tlie rolling tussock country i being admirably suited to use of tanks. Many of the now unwanted armoured , vehicles have been parked in Waiouru, Tho contre of the camp was tlie old homestead, property of the Lysnai Estate in tlie days before its acquisition by the military, and the wide range of tussock land rouud the area is the Waiouru Station, now farmed bv Mr. W. 11. Harding. More- than 100C sheep were reported stolen from thc station a short time ago, and a big reward was offered. L The, climate at Waiouru is very eolcl L> in winter, and the military canip wa."used partly to harden recruits for wai service with the Army. They were ' put into tents, and the frost was sc severe on oeeasions that wet towelf hardened up overnight until they were as stiff as boards. — — ■ III L— — M— mmm