SAND DRIFT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1974, 8 May 1919, Page 3

SAND DRIFT.

DISCUSSED BY THE WANGANUI CHAMBER OP COMMERCE. 5

At Monday night’s meeting ofthe Wanganui - Chamber of Commerce a letter was read from the Foxton Chamber of Commerce, urging that Messrs Field, Newman and Yeitch, M’s.P., be asked to bring under the notice of the Minister of'Lands the necessity for taking steps to stop the sand drift menace along the coast between Paekakariki and Wanganui, and to recommend the Crown to acquire, such waste lands for afforestation or other purposes.

Mr E. A. Campbell considered there was no trouble to stop the sand-drift, as was done at other places. Thousands of acres had been reclaimed in New Zealand. In the area referred to the Government owned a lot of the land along the coast, but had taken ho steps in the matter. It was no use talking about planting trees until the area had first been planted with marram grass and lupin. Mr J. Williams said forty acres of pines had been planted at Utaki, right on the sand. The President said public bodies were taking metal along the coast, and this allowed a huge amount of sand to shift. The Government had been urged to do something to stop erosion at Moawhanga domain, and one settler at Kai Iwi had lost about twenty acres of laud.

Mr A, Harris related an instance where a road was made on the block of land between the mouths of the Rangitikei and Manawatu rivers, It was clear on a Saturday, bjit on the following Monday had nine feet deep of sand over it. There were other cases whore in a few weeks land was covered 40 or 50 feet with sand, while other land was uncovered.

The President considered that up to Waitotara Point should be taken

With this addition it was decided to support the Buxton Chamber, also to enlist the help of Air Pearce, M. P.—C hron icle.

MANAWATU COUNTY SYMPATHETIC.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council the Poxton Chamber of Commerce wrote, asking the Council's* support in bringing under the notice of the Minister of Lands the necessity of taking steps to stop (lie sand-drift menace along the coast, between Paekakariki and Wanganui. The chairman (Sir James Wilson) re'marked that this was a most sensibly proposal, and he dwelt on the benefits that would bo derived if extensive tree-planting were undertaken on these areas. The whole of the strip of coastline affected by the drift should be planted. Cr. Penny also commended the idea, mentioning that the trees planted at the Rangitikei heads a number of years ago had grown splendidly. Sir James remarked that it was a great, misfortune that tree-planting was ever stopped in (hat locality, and members agreed with him. The Council decided to endorse the suggest ion.