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Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1923, Page 2

At a time when Great Britain has recently concluded an arrangement for repaying the amount- owing to America it is interesting to remember, remarks a London Financial Journal, that eight Southern States of the Union have been in default on loans raised bv them for from 50 to SO years. Only estimates can be obtained of the details of these loans, but the aggregate amount is at. least GO million dollars. They liisotly carried G per cent, interest, and if the period of default is taken at only 50 years, iL means that the accumulated arrears now represent a. sum of .C3G,000,000 at- the normal rate of exchange. British investors subscribed for many of these bonds, and it is very strange that it has not been possible in all these years to get States like Mississippi, Louisiana, North and South Carolina, etc., to recognise their obligations. The loans are understood to have been contracted for public improvements, and did not include ‘‘Confederate” bonds or war debts. Evidently the Federal Government arc helpless in the matter. Then as regards Russia, payment- of interest- on the debt was discontinued in 1917 when an order was issued by the de facto government repudiating the whole of the obligations. Precise details of the external debt of Russia cannot- be obtained, but the aggregate mav be put at- about £920,000.000. of which nearly .0738,000,000 represents direct loans. In addition. Russia has issued Treasury Bills as cover for advances, amounting to from £800,000,000 to £850,000.000, made by the Allied Powers during the war. If Britain could collect the debts owing to her by other countries, her financial troubles would bo very little ones—but to collect the amount is impossible, and while Birtain pays up to others she must wait the pleasure of those debtor nations which are in her books for many round millions.

At the time of the late municipal election one of the candidates referied to the stale of the ocean beach and rolerrod to tl’.e necessity for clearing and further protecting the seat nun-. Sea encroachment is a recurring possibility, and it would be as well to prepare for it. We notice that other parts of the West Coast suffer from periodical erosion at times. Hokitika- has had its lesson and .should prepare for possible eventualities again. The Auckland “Herald” thus refers to a. case in the North Island:—-Along thirty miles of the West Coast south from Knipara Heads, the encroachment of the shore sand has given rise to -some anxiety, but those on tlie spot, who, incidentally, are the most concerned, do not regard the menace as one which caning bo coped with. The sand drift has extended for an average of three miles, hut where marram grass, ice plant-, or lupins have been planted tho drift has been stayed. At Woodhdl tho Government lias commenced planting on 500 acres, but there is some complaint that tho work lia.s not been tackled and carried forward in an energetic manner, and for this reason results leave room i° r improvement. Some years ago sand grasses wore planted at Motutara, and the award obtained lias now made possible the planting of trees, but the land is a- reserve, and apparently this work is nobody's business. A curious circumstance is that along this section ol coast the shore line is gradually creeping seaward. The old clitf line which once formed the shore can now he traced a mile inland. The sea bed is naturally becoming more shallow efl the shore, the depth six miles out, being not- greater than six fathoms. A similar sand drift to that being cxpericnced in itho'lvaipara- district occuired some years ago. On the east eoat-s toward Wellington, but it was completely stayed by the planting of grasses, the operations being carried out on a comprehensive scale. In \ iew of the success there there can he little doubt- that the Knipara. menace- will not present insuperable difficulties.

From the foregoing it will he seen that possible protection can be secured by the planting of marram grass, ice plant and lupins as was mentioned bore at. the ratepayers' meeting. At New Brighton and Sumner on the Fast Coast, the form of protection referred to has been very successful, and might well be ttied here It is not an expensive work, and ns the plantation grows, it relieves the dull greyness of the surroundings, and adds to the general aspect The plantations also provents sand drift- (as has been proved Intelv in the vicinity of the golf links at South Hokitika) and generally adds to the security of the position. The work combined with the cleaning up process so necessary to the beach, would result in a very important improvement in the appearance of the locality referred to. The good work being done by the Beautifying Society is now doubt having its effect cn t e public mind, and certainly there is a demand for an improvement to the bench, area, ns no portion of the town is more criticsed by visitors than the ocean beach, in respect to which such passive interest is taken by the oca body. With the growth of the town, and'which should become the most important tourist centre on the Cos, one can visualise the ocean front *- ing improved out ot all know, ed effective plantations. That "i ultimate destiny of the locality refen’ed to when the people realise the is to the town. But apart from us future importance, it is ‘®P era *J® • the present that it should be kept n seemly and safe order. An effect! clearing up is certainly k there should U commenced the work If Saltation, Primarily for protective work, and secondly as an aid to that MUtifiOtiw pf the locality

will make the beach a public resort of the highest importance to the future popularity of the town with the streams of visitors who will come westward for their holidays and recreations.