The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated ”The West Coast Times.” TUESDAY, AUGUST 16th, 1921.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated ”The West Coast Times.” TUESDAY, AUGUST 16th, 1921.

THE SAND DRIFT. The drifting sand on the ocean beach is again a recurring trouble and Oouncil and citizens grappled with the question at the Borough Council meeting on Friday night. This Coast nor New Zealand coasts, are singular in having to put up with the trouble complained of. Much older countries have had similar difficulties to contend ! with through the ages. Europe was 0116 of the first places to cope with the trouble, and at Holland marram grass was first used successfully. Tt is some years since marram grass was first introduced here by Mr L. Northern! t. when a member of the local Council, hut its growth was never seriously fostered. Tn other parts of New Zealand where it is cultivated, it has proved most useful and is one of the standard plants to <-ope with the drifting sand question. On this subject a writer in the London Daily Mail said recently that ‘considerable trouble with shifting sarnl was experienced some years ago on the banks of the Suez Canal. The j problem was solved successfully by the extensive planting of several varL j etles of tfttmii'lsks, which take lent in h very small deposit ef »nd Mid wbb i,

were intermingled with herbaceous plants such as the ornct and the alfa. [t has been found that Bengal fir trees poplars mulberry trees and sycamores have flourished well, and have prevented the encroachment of the desert sands driven up by the wind.” As there would not be the same degree of beat here as in the Sudan Country, perhaps the trees would not thrive as well here—or at all. Probably something could be done by wav of experment to test the matter, for it would certainly be a pleasing sight to see the waste sand dunes covered with miniature trees of varying kinds. In the North Island, the Forestry Department on tlit 1 ! sea coast in the neighborhood of Foxton, is planting out fir trees for ex])orimental purposes and the progress there could be watched with interest. For a quicker and more certain remedy here, the local authorities might profit by the experience of Sumner and New Brighton on the opposite side of this Island. There marram grass flourishes greatly, also lupins and in the later days—what is known as the ice or rock plant, which covers the area as a carpet—the best assurance ngnim-t sand drift. It would not be a. matter of very great effort to get advice from the Borough Councils of Sumner an ’ Now Brighton as to the most successful course of action. Both places have had intimate experience with drifting sand and over there it has been even of more serious menace to the seafront than here. With the information derived from experience for a guide, the local Borough Council probably with the assistance, of the Hokitika Beautifying Association, could take up the matter in a comprehensive way. an sen t-he whole bcacbfi nut treated in sen son or two. Marram grass could' be planted extensively and this could l c supplemented by lupins and the ine plant so as to give pleasing variety, while tree-planting could be indulged in here and there by wa v of experiment. In that way practical results could lx? achieved. The matter is of local importance first, to prevent the sand drift, and second to improve the appearance of the sea front. The public are interested in the matter and would no doubt help as a matter of civic pride. Under proper direction much could be done by working bees, and as the possibilities are so useful, and the need so great we hope the. citizens in conjunction with the local body will take the matter up actively.