D.—]

Civil Aerodromes and Landing-grounds. Whangarei- North Auckland District. —Preliminary investigations have been carried out at Onerahi (Wliangarei), Waitangi, Rawene, Kaikohe, Dargaville, and Kerikeri. Engineering surveys have been undertaken at the following sites : Onerahi (Whangarei), Kaikohe, Dargaville (alternative site), and Waipapakauri (extensions). Proposals have been completed at Onerahi (Whangarei) and Waipapakauri (extensions). Construction work has been put in hand over an additional 34 acres on Waipapakauri Aerodrome. Auckland District. —Preliminary investigations for sites are in hand at Point England, Kawhia, Raglan, and Kaawa Valley. Surveys have been undertaken at Ngaruawahia and at Great Barrier Island. Construction has been carried out at the following grounds : — Great Barrier Island (Kaitoke) : Construction work is well in hand by modern-plant methods. Mangere Aerodrome : Extensive enlarging and regrading has been carried out over 83 acres, involving excavating 96,000 cubic yards for the year, and making the total to date 177,000 cubic yards ; 24 acres have been returfed and 6 acres sown in grass ; 12,000 cubic yards have been excavated for buildings area and construction of 3,300 square yards of permanently surfaced aprons. The erection of radio transmitting station is in hand. The field is in use by Union Airways as the Auckland terminal of Auckland-Wellington daily service. Ngaruawahia Emergency Landing-ground : This ground has been ploughed, levelled, and sown with grass, and is fit for use. Thames Aerodrome : An area of 95 acres has been acquired, stop-banked, and ring-drained, and is ready for final surfacing. Earthwork during the year amounts to 26,000 cubic yards. Tauranga - Bay of Plenty District. —Preliminary investigations have been carried out at the following sites : Te Teko and Whakatane. Engineering surveys were completed at Tauranga, Opotiki, Atiamuri, and Galatea. Construction is in hand as follows :—■ Atiamuri —Emergency Landing-ground : 70 acres have been cleared and grubbed. Levelling of surface is in hand. Galatea —Emergency Landing-ground : This ground is in good order, and improvements are in hand. Opotiki Aerodrome : Construction has been commenced, and drainage of the field is in hand. Rotorua Aerodrome : 115 acres have been levelled and sown in grass, and work is nearing completion. 62,000 cubic yards of earthwork have been shifted during the year. Taupo Aerodrome : 52 acres have been ploughed and grassed, and the area has been surrounded with rabbit-proof fence. Tauranga Aerodrome : 68 acres have been cleared and stumped, and an access road has been formed and partly metalled. Proposals are in hand to construct this aerodrome by contract. Gisborne - Poverty Bay District. —Investigations have been carried out at Motuhora, Ruatoria, and Rakauroa. Engineering surveys have been undertaken at Gisborne for extensions and at Opoutama. Gisborne Aerodrome : Levelling and surfacing of 50 acres have been completed during the year by plant methods, and the field is again in use. Proposals are to be prepared for additional extensions. Opoutama —Emergency Landing-ground : Work has commenced on the preliminary development of the ground. Taumarunui - King-country District: Preliminary investigations have been carried out at Chateau Tongariro, Taumarunui, and Te Awamutu. Construction work is in hand on only one aerodrome. Te Kuiti Aerodrome : The preliminary development has been completed during the year, and the aerodrome has been in use since October, 1936. Extensions have been surveyed and construction on these is in hand. Stratford-Taranaki District. —Engineering surveys have been undertaken at Karioi and New Plymouth extensions. New Plymouth (Extensions) : The original area is in good order, and is in use by transport and club aircraft. Work is in hand on the development of a further 120 acres, involving the deviation of Te Arei Road and heavy earthwork in the regrading of this new area. A radio transmitting station is being constructed. Stratford Aerodrome : The development of this aerodrome has been completed, and the ground is in good order and is in use. The work entailed heavy stumping, draining, regrading, and reclamation of former swamp, and has been remarkably successful; 40 chains of access road were formed and metalled. Hawera Aerodrome : All work with the exception of removal of obstructing power-lines has been completed on this aerodrome ; 100 acres in all have been graded and returfed. The ground is in good order, and is in use. Wanganui Airport: Work on this aerodrome under the control of the Wanganui City Council has been completed, and the ground is in use. Extensions at the northern end are in hand. Napier - Hawke's Bay District. Preliminary investigations were undertaken at Wairoa. Engineering surveys have been carried out at Mohaka and Waipukurau. Construction work has been in hand at the following aerodromes : — Napier Aerodrome : During the year 101 acres have been levelled, involving 76,000 cubic yards of excavation. The whole area ot 144 acres is now completed and sown in grass. It is anticipated that the aerodrome will be available for use in the early part of 1938. Hastings Aerodrome : An additional 3-5 acres were levelled during the year. The total area is now 47 acres. A landing-circle has been placed and attention given to surrounding obstructions. Waipukurau Aerodrome : A total of 62 acres was relevelled and turfed during the year: 38,000 cubic yards of material was excavated. The completed portion of ground is in use by light aircraft, and further extensive levelling and drainage work is in hand.

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