PREVENTION OF SAND DRIFT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1928, Page 4

PREVENTION OF SAND DRIFT

A COSTLY WORK. WELLINGTON. May 2. Sand dune reclamation is a costly business, according to statements made by the Commissioner of State Forests (the lion. 0. J. Hawken) in an interview with a representative of the "Lyttelton Times.”

The .Minister explained that the sand dime work at .Rangitikei had been undertaken and planted by the Forestry Department as an experiment. “Practically the whole of the area, eompris ing approximately three thousand acres, has been planted with marram grass, and on that that the sand drifts have been stopped quite effectually,’ said Air Hawken. “Thus a menace to the surrounding land has been removed. In addition, about five hundred acres of trees and sixty acres of flax have been planted. It is very doubtful. however, whether such land, being so exposed and so close to the sea level, is suitable for growing timhei as a commercial proposition, particularly when it is remembered that laud much more suitable is available for that purpose. What is called the fore dune has been raised to make a continuous break, and lias been planted with sand grass. It is quite evident that a fore dun can lie raised without very much expense.' ‘' We bate the uholc ol the sand dunes in Xev, Zealand under observation at the present time, and report* are being prepared with respect- tv, some of the areas. We have found that with planting marram grass it tv as necessary to grow plants suitable for transplanting, and. when you have a good supply of plains, it i- possible to plain sand drift- tor about £3 an acre. We found we could plant •.

for about the same money. there is no doubt that the t xperimetit at Rangitikei has give ntts a great deal of information as to how lo handle drifting sand. It is quite evident that it is work that entails very considerable expenditure, and. excepting that it stops the drift and the encroachment of the saml on the better-class lands, the financial result would hardly justify expenditure by the Department on any of the sand areas.”