NGARUAWAHIA CAMP.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4847, 1 July 1925, Page 4

NGARUAWAHIA CAMP.

LAYING OUT OF GROUNDS.

WORKS AT HOPU HOPU. • Great progress has Deen made In the past few months with the work in connection with the military camp at Hopu Hopu, near Ngaruawahia. Although several territorial instructional camps were held on the ground earlier hi the year the camp site was then in a very rough and unfinished state, and practically covered in gorse. Now, however, ,30 acres of the camp site have been cleared of gorse and ploughed, while the area between the old Ngaruawahia-Taupiri road has been cleared of gorse, which will shortly be burnt off and put under the plough.

The railway siding, one of the most important features of the camp, has now been laid, and is at present being ballasted. The line is some 48 chains in length, about a quarter of a mile being on railway land before striking into the camp area. At the terminal point- of the siding an unloading shed and ramp have been from which it is proposed to run a light tramway to the magazines, which are situated about half a mile farther on than the loading shed and at the back of the central hill, which dominates the camp.

The water service system is practically complete, and from indications is, likely to prove satisfactory. The large filter or “settling” tank has been completed and sunk to its required depth, and the six-inch pipe line laid from the pumping station to the reservoir on the hill overlooking the camp. The settling tank system is something of an innovation for so large a scheme. The purpose of the settling tank is to filter thoroughly the river water before distributing it for use in the camp. The floor of the tank, is 10 feet below the level of the river, and water percolates through some 40 feet of sand, thus being well filtered. From the. tank the water is pumped to the reservoirs. Some doubt was felt whether the water would percolate into the tank sufficiently rapidly to supply the pump ; last week showed that the inflow was quite satisfactory, and that it was possible to pump an adequate supply without emptying the tank completely. The workmen are now, busy in setting up the 30-h.p. electric motor for the Tangye pump, as an attitional precaution against contamination of the water it will be passed through a chlorinating and dechlorinating plant before entering the resrvoir.

Work on the and other permanent buildings is making rapid progress; two of the former have already been completed; one is completed as far as, the concrete is coh-, corned.; the excavations ■•for lour more are complete, and . those for the remaining seven are more than half done. In regard to the latter buildings, the quarters for the single men on the staff of the camp will be finally completed in the course of a week. The building will accommodate % 10 men, contains the usual conveniences. The work of erecting the cottages for. the married men on the permanent staff is now well in hand. One cottage is practically completed, and the concrete foundations have been laid for a further four. The permanent buildings are constructed in concrete block made at the camp. Electric power is now carried into the camp, and the electricians arc almost immediately expected to reticulate to the various units.

At present there are 104 men employed on the work, which is under the control of Mr W. Janies, of the Public Works Department.