MARINE PARADE FOR OAMARU

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1929, Page 2

MARINE PARADE FOR OAMARU

O'AMARU, September 10. To relieve in: Qamaru, a scheme Has been, approved 'by - the Public Works Department to construct a marine parade rpund Cape Wanbrow to Bushy and Sandy’Beaches. At the opening ceremony, some. interesting details relative, to the geological formation of the rocks, was given by Mr W. S. Grave, chairman of the committee. He said that the rocks at Cape'Wanbrow were unique,'. and attracted geologists from all parts of the world. There was no other .formation like it in the southern hemisphere, and probably not in the world.. Thousands of years ago, it had been a scene of intense volcanic activity,. and the .rocks had been poured : out by submarine upheaval. There were strata of .volcanic ash and dusty and during a period of less volcanic activity layers of limestone were formed. Finally the rocks under the sea had been brought to the surface by an upheaval. The clay above the rocks, geologists would tell them, was silt resulting from glacial formation in the ice age. . Then there was ah old raised beach ten or twelve feet above high water level. It was that old beach of sand and gravel, extending past Otago Heads to the Nuggets, which gave them the idea of forming a track around the cliff. The scheme had been mooted thirty, years ago. People had been sceptical of the project, saying it would cost thousands, but hundreds would be nearer the mark. It was intended ultimately to form a motor track to the beaches.