THE SAND DUNES

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 October 1918, Page 2

THE SAND DUNES

ON WEST COAST OF HELENSVILLE. The following report, prepared by the Hon. D. H. Guthrie (Minister of Lands), was received by the Acting-Premier, and forwarded on to the Chairman of the Waitemata County Council: — —Sand Dunes on West Coast— " With reference to the above and the State reclamation that was proposed by the deputation from the Waitemata County Council that waited on you at Helensville, I have to state that the sand area that is particularly referred to is that starting at the South Kaipara Head and extending southerly along the coa«t for about 30 miles. The strip is from four miles to one-half mile wide. The area of sand dunes belonging to the State is 15,790 acres, 15,300 of which is in one large block near the Heads ; there are two areas of freehold totalling 2,500 acres; and 12,980 acres of native land in two areas; the approximate total area of all the sand dunes in thiß locality is 31,270 acres.

"The drift of sand is worst near Woodhill station, where it has come close to the railway, covering good lands in its advance. At this place the drift is from native lands, and the lands on which the sand is encroaching are privately owned. Where the encroachment is worst many of the settlers have planted lupins and marram-grass, but as the aand still comes up from the coast the preventive measures hare generally prored ineffectual. Reclamation should be started at the source of the Banddrift, viz., the «ea-shore. In this case, however, th« source is native-owned, and consequently neither the local body nor private persons hare attempted any planting there.

"On the west coast of the North Island, which is subject to almost constant strong -winds, sand dune reclamation is an expensive and difficult matter. Eeclamation by means of marram-grass planting was done under the 'direction of the Inspector of Scenic Reserves about four years ago at the mouths of the Rangitikei and Waikato Rivers ; the cost was then about £5 an acre (including purchase of marram, of which nearly one ton is required to one acre). Owing, however, to want of funds to spend on maintenance a good deal of the work has since been destroyed. The small area that the deputation quoted as having been successfully re- j claimed at Muriwai was done by the Motutara Domain Board, under the direction of the Inspector, the Board being granted a subsidy of £100. " The reclamation of the sand dunes in this locality, is a difficult and expensive matter, and the physical difficulties are increased by the fact that in the worst places the land is native owned. " Instructions have been issued to the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Auckland to arrange for the planting of a small plot of marram-grass and " iceplant " at the South Head. From this plot later on a supply of material will be available for extension. " The same action is being taken with regard to the sand dunes at North Kaipara Head, and at Marsden Point and Awanui on the East Coast. With the present scarcity of funds I do not think any more can now be done. Where the sand dunes are wide and comparatively level, reclamation by means of marram should probably be followed by afforestation, as is done in similar localities in other parts of the world."