AIR FORCE 'DROME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 127, 15 June 1937, Page 5

AIR FORCE 'DROME

-Press Assoeiation.)

Site at Oliakea Decided Upoii SIMILAR TO WIGRAM

(Bv Telegraph -

PALMERSTON N., This Day. An annotmceme'nt of COnBiderkbie iiaportance to the whole of the West COast and to Palmerston Horth ifl particular was made yesterday when it was disclosed hy an Ohakea farmer that the Govern- • ment, through the Puhlic Works Department, has decided to purchase his property for the purpOse of a Royal New Zealhnd Air Force estahlishment. The base which is to he formed is spokeh of as heing of a size rivalling that established at Yvigl'Sm On the outskirts of Christchurch, which has for many years aotea as the headquarters of xnilitary aviation in the Dominion. The land the Government has decided to acquire is ownpd by Mr. F. 0. Bailey, of Ohakea, and comprises slightly over 166 acres. It is understood that several other properties are to be purchased in the immediate vicinity, covering in all an area of over 500 acres, but at present nono of the oWnerS haVe received a definite intimatidn to the efteet that their fa'rms will be taken Over. The property defihitely chosen has mhch to xeconmiehd it as a site fdr a defehce aerodrome. The surface is of a very flat nature and the whole of the soil ideal for the purpose. Surveyors, engineers and other Government offieials have spent a cOnsider- : able amount of time iA recent months : in making themselves faxhiliar with all the details Of the land oecupied by Mf. BailOy as well as the other properties adjacent. A Site off the Foxton road, i?t is understood, was also being considered as a possible alternative for the situation of the 'drome which will be construeted, but it can be taken from the advice received by Mr. Bailey that the Ohakea area has Won offLeial approval.. Mr. Bailey' has been in possessioh Of| his "property for 38 years, having firsti obtained it at a ballot held in 1899* j ♦