D.—l.

Work commenced on the building programme on 7tli September, and the accommodation was ready for occupation by the advance personnel of the Air Force by 16th October. During this period the following buildings were erected in timber : Officers', sergeants', and airmen's combined mess ; one double dormitory block for airmen ; two double cubicle blocks for officers, pilot officers, and non-commissioned officers ; and one single block, half as dormitory accommodation and half as cubicle quarters ; headquarters building ; workshops ; motor transport garages and shops ; institute and canteen building ; navigation block ; camera obscura ; Public Works depot and caretaker's residence. Garages were erected for tanker-wagons, ambulance and fire tender, light-beacon tender, and for motor-cars. The bulk fuel installation included a lubricant and inflammable store, and three underground storage tanks. The total floor area involved approximates 57,000 square feet. The three mile 6 in. water-supply pipe-line from the Dunedin City's Silverstream Race, the stormwater and sewerage reticulation, septic tank and electric-power supply were all in use on the date of occupation of the station. The formation and sealing of access roads and paths, and the laying of the septic-tank effluent main, and filter-beds were completed. A reinforced-concrete fire-tank, 75 ft. by 30 ft., has been constructed since October. The construction of two concrete tennis-courts, asphaltic parade ground, and the laying-down of the building surrounds in grass are well advanced. Work is now in hand on the 25-yard machinegun range and the water-storage tank at the Silverstream Race. The temporary timber hangar under construction at the end of the last period has been completed. The concrete floor and concrete aprons for this, hangar, of a total area of 5,000 square yards, were laid during September. Extensions to the flying-field were carried out subsequent to the outbreak of war. A further 100 acres, making a total of 200 acres, have now been made available, giving a diagonal field length of 1,500 yards. The required levelling was carried out with modern plant, and the last of the new area was sown down by December. A good grass cover has been obtained, but the area will not be put into regular service until the spring, as the surface is still soft. No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, New Plymouth. The levelling of the extensions was completed, and the New Plymouth Aero Club's buildings, Union Airways Office, petrol-pumps, &c., were removed to the new site set apart for administrative buildings. The old Te Arei Road was closed, levelled, and included in the aerodrome. Trees oil surrounding properties were felled and the stumps removed. On the outbreak of war the aerodrome was taken over by the Air Department for use as an Elementary Flying Training School. An extensive emergency-building programme, including hangar, dormitories, mess-rooms, headquarters, &c., was carried out in the shortest possible time with the co-operation of the building trade in New Plymouth. The majority of these buildings were erected on the south-east side of the Te Arei Road, the land being taken for defence purposes. The flying-field and Air Force buildings are now being fully maintained by this Department. Ground Training School, Weraroa, Levin. The following new buildings were erected : Three airmen's barracks, equipment-store, doublebay garage, laundry block, hospital block, headquarters block, new officers' quarters (70 per cent, complete), fire-pump house, and guard-house. New sewerage connections for the above buildings were made to the existing system. Water services were provided and provision made for the getaway of storm-water. The following buildings were reconditioned and altered: Main institute building converted into main airmen s mess, cottage converted into sergeants' mess, manager's house (two storied) converted into officers' mess, matron's quarters converted to C.O. quarters, store into lecture block, and office into temporary headquarters, gymnasium reconditioned and canteen and projection room added, bathhouse renovated and extended. An area of approximately 12,000 square yards was graded and metalled for parade grounds, parking areas, roads, paths, &c., of which approximately 10,000 square yards were sealed. Several old wooden outbuildings were dismantled and re-erected for the Child Welfare Department at the Central Development Farm. A large number of miscellaneous works were also completed. General. Removal of Obstructions surrounding Aerodromes—Further removal of obstructions in the air approaches to aerodromes has been carried out under the powers of existing legislation. However, much still remains to be done in this direction. Progress has been made with the compilation of zoning plans for obstructions, and it is expected that this work will greatly improve the safety of such aerodromes. " Air Pilot," " Notices to Airmenand Flying Strip Maps.—Close co-operation has been maintained with the Controller of Civil Aviation in regard to the correction and amendment of these facilities for pilots. Aerial Surveys.—A vast amount of survey work in connection with irrigation, drainage, rivercontrol, road-location, forestry, soil survey, and mapping has been supervised on behalf of this and other Government Departments.

56