OUR CHAMPS DE MARS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 2 June 1910, Page 6

OUR CHAMPS DE MARS.

FOR TRAINING TROOPS. SITE CHOSEN IN EACH ISLAND. REASONS FOR SELECTION. Among the matters wliich were dealt with by tho Government yesterday was the report of Mr. Kensington, Undersecretary for Lands, Colonel Tuson, Ad-jutant-General, and Mr. Strauchan, Sur-veyor-General, upon proposed sites in both islands for military training grounds. The commission recommended a site on the Waimarino Plains for tho camp for the North Island, and a site along the south bank of the AVaimakariri River, six miles from Christehurch, for the camp foT tho South Island. It itas decided to adopt the recommendations of tho commission. In the course of its report, the commission said — What a Good Site Must Embody. Before definitely considering the capabilities of any particular area of land the general conditions appearing to govern the selection o{ a suitable site, both as a permanent camping ground, and also for the manoeuvres of troops, weTe discussed, and the consensus oi opinion favoured the adoption of the following conditions :— (1) A central position on each island. ' (2) Accessibility to a constructed line of railway, if possible within a radius of four or five miles from a railway station. (3) That the site should contain (a) flat land,' well drained, with sufficient water supply, on which to erect the buildings required for the accommodation of the troops, and (b) an adjoining area of undulating land over which manoeuvres could be conducted. . (4) That the sites should be selected > with a view to their possible extension in the future, both through enlargement of the permanent camping ground and the manoeuvring area. For the immediate present it was considered that twenty acres, on which buildings costing up to .£3OOO could be erected, would be sufficient for the camping site, and that 5000 acres ad-, joining, with future extension, if necessary, up to 10,000 acres, would be sufficient for manoeuvres. (5) That, if possible, the ■ land selected should not bo required for settlement, and either comprise (a) Crown land, or (b) land vested in a public body, which could be obtained by way of exchange with areas of Crown laud of corresponding value, or (c) private land not well adapted for agriculture or pasturage. (6) That tho cost of acquisition should be as low as possible, and, therefore, efforts should be made to find Crown land or low-priced freehold land. North Island: Waimarino Site Favoured, The Waimarino Plains give a • site almost equi-distant from Auckland and Wellington, being 200 miles from the former and 220 miles from the latter city. Moreover, it i 3 2J4 miles from Napier and 243 miles from New Plymouth. Furthermore, it is possible for the East Coast troops to come by; way of Motu, Eotorua, and Taupo, whilst the railway lines in course of construction will materially shorten tho times now occupied by troops arriving from the Bay of Plenty, North Taranaki, and outlying districts. The site for a camping ground is in close proximity to tho Waimarino station on tho North Island '.Main Trunk railway, and only' about three-quarters of a mile of-a cheaply-formed light railway would be required to take trains right up to the site. The site has also the advantages of a main road from both the north and the south, and also of a road which is being formed from tho Waimarino station in the direction of Koto Aira and Tokaanu. This will be extended ■ from time to time, and thus form a line of road by which troops can march to distant points in the manoeuvring area, etc., accompanied by military wagons and equipment; Four camp sites have been selected, any one of which fills requirements. There is shelter from the prevailing S.W. wind afforded by patches of native forest, tho sites adjoin the flat ground required for drilling purposes, and are also within easy distance of the area that would be used for manoeuvres". The area of the selected site is approximately 37,600 acres, of. which the Crown owns 32,435 acres. About 5165 acres of inferior Native land, situated in the Waimarino No. 4 Block, tho Tawhia North Block, and the Mahuia Block, need to be acquired.

Advantages of the Locality. The altitude of the Waimarino Plains is 2COO feet above sea level. The climate is a fine and bracing one, well calculated to ensure the health of tho troops, and tho soil is of a porous nature, never retaining excess of moisture. Extensive forests surround the plains, and throughout the open area several large patches of bush are scattered, so that a plentiful supply of timber for building and firewood purposes can be relied upon. The plains are intersected by numerous streams, and an abundant and never-failing supply of good water can be obtained anywhere. The land is unsuitable for' close settlement, and there is no settlement of any kind near the proposed manoeuvring area, so that there will be no question of damage occasioned by the marching of infanfay, evolutions of cavalry, or from rifle or artillery fire. Topographically speaking, the country is varied, thus affording excellent practice for manoeuvres. There are streams to bridge, swamps to fascine, and bush and ridges to mask the movements of troops. There is ample distance for the firing of long-range artillery, with tho spurs of Ruapehu and Hauhangatahi as a background. Why Certain Sites Were Rejected. Referring to other sites offered the commission has also something to say. In its opinion, the Karioi site was.somewhat bleak and exposed, whilst not so central at Waimai-ino. As regards the Rangataua site, it was felt that it was too small for the many purposes required, and not so advantageously situated as the one selected. The Woiourn site was somewhat bare and exposed, and has few of the - many advantages possessed by the Waimarino sit*. Of the Marton site, the. commission say 'that the cost of acquisition 1 would be too great for consideration. The Taupo site was reckoned to be.too far from the North Island Main Trunk railway. In regard to the Waimeha site, it was felt that, the cost ot' acquisition would be fairly heavy, whilst much of the land i« suitable for settlement. Against the Himatangi site was the fact that its position is far from central, whilst the land is adapted for settlement, and too highly priced. A similar objection was raised with reference to the Opaki site.

South Island: Waimakariri Site. Owing to tho configuration of the South Island, the other site was chosen in Canterbury. The choice was consequently restricted, but the ono chosen appeared to contain most of the requirements, though not all'that the board would have liked. It is situated on the south bank of the Waimakariri River, about sis railw from Christahnreh, 230 miles from Dunedin, 361) miles from Inverc.ir■rill, US from Greymontli, 220 from Blenheim, and about 2JS(J from Nelson by steamer route. It may bo reached from the Hornby Station, on the ChristalmrchDunodin railway, the Kirweo, Aylesbury, or Rollesion Stations (on the 'Christ-chiirch-Grcyinouth railway), the Papanut Station (on the Christchurch-Hunmu' railway), arid from the .Kiccarton fiacecounse railway siding:- The area was originally Crown land, but was granted to tho Board of Conservators of tho Waimakariri Bivar as an endowment to provide funds for the protection of the river banks. There appears to be no objection to an area of Crown Kind in another part of the district of corresponding' value being exchanged for the prnirased site. Xf mutual arrangements could not bo made with tho Board of Conservators (nnd no doubt they could bo), the Government could take the land under the I'iiblii: Works Act. The total nroa of tho endowment is 12,115 acres, but for tho present p\irijjoaeait ia considered that a sit© of about

4800 acres would bo sufficient. The land is at present leased at an annual rent of .£G7O, the value of the land being about .£14,000, and pastoral runs 172,174 and 180, situated in tlm Tawera County, between the Wnimakariri and liakaia Hivors, containing an aggregate area of 08,000 acres, at present ridding an annual rent of XGSO, could bo offered in exchange for the proposed site. Should the area require to bn extended at any time, further land adjoining the western boundary could also be acquired, and thus give a total area of over 8000 acres.

Rejected South Island Sites. The site is practically fiat land and old river-bed, and no bush grows thereon. The soil is light and sandy, resting on shingle, and is consequently not well adapted for settlement, though it could be used for grazing purposes, with which its military use would not interfere. Other sites reported on by the commission were: Culverden or Balmoral sito\ Upper Ashley site, "West Oxford site, Burnt Hill site, Dixon Estate site, Broken Diver site, Mackenzie site, Waimate site, Waitaki site; also in Otago, the Outram, Henley, Dunback, Waihemo, Clinton, Barowood, and Waitahuna sites; and ,in addition, the Lumsden site in Southland.