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Eokitika. The construction of a new aerodrome with two gravel stabilized runways has been continued on the Seaview site and is nearing completion of the first stage of T lent F standards " This aerodrome should be open to traffic in the 1949-50 period. Waitah (Oamaru). This aerodrome, of vital importance to commercial air services -as an alternate field, has had its three landing-strips extended in grass 011 a good gravel -subgrade to full Class E standards. 5 5 Taieri (Dunedin). —All extension in grass approximately 500 ft. by 500 ft was Added to this field to give an over-all length of 5,000 ft. in the main landing directions. I lie erection of a new control tower was completed. Mechanic's Bay Flying-boat Base A new slipway for flying-boats has been commenced. Surveys and Investigations At Auckland, engineering and soil surveys have been made at two alternative sites lor a major combined international and local civil airport, and at Rotorua into a site for' a new commercial airport. At Palmerston North, Christchurch, and Invercargill similar investigations have been made into improvements and extensions required for the internal air services. Aeradio and Air-traffic-control Development Although 110 major new aeradio stations have been established during the year, a great deal of work has been undertaken in remodelling accommodation and facilities ■at existing stations. In addition, standby electrical generating-sets have been provided throughout to cope with the emergencies of power failures or cuts. Preliminary arrangements were m hand at the close of the period for new aeradio homer-beacon stations at Ohura, Pahiatua, and Waitaki. Alterations and improvements have been effected to the area air-traffic-control centres ™ UC (Mechanics Bay) and Christchurch (Harewood),, and a new combined air-traffic-control and communications centre has been established at Wellington. Staff Accommodation (Civil Aerodromes) Except for the provision of flats in converted R.N.Z.A.F. buildings, little has been .achieved m providing living-accommodation at the aerodromes for airport staff. A total of 29 married quarters, consisting of flats or separate housing units, have been built, as follows : Raikohe (1), New Plymouth (10), Nelson (2), Harewood (8), and jtt nrther similar quarters are under construction at Kaitaia (1), Gisborne (2) And Harewood (4), while 8 temporary single men's quarters have been built at Kaitaia! Fiji and Pacific Islands At the regional airports of Nausori (Fiji), Fua-a-motu (Tonga), Faleolo (Samoa), and Aitutaki and Rarotonga (Cook Islands), work has been confined to maintenance lor minor improvements in converting wartime facilities to civil purposes. At j '°^°^ a ' IS nearin g completion on the erection of a new aeradio receiving-station and 4 nouses lor airport and radio station staff. At Nandi International Civil Airport (Fiji) work has continued in converting wartime service buildings and facilities to civil purposes. The principal work involved ■covers the completion to date of 37 married housing units for airport staff, a new meterological radar wind station, reorganization and renovations to technical accommodation, and hostel accommodation for passengers. The reconstruction of runway taxiway, and apron pavements, which had failed to stand up to the heavy loadings of commercial overseas aircraft traffic, was commencing at the close of the period.

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