ARRESTING THE SAND DRIFT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2352, 8 November 1921, Page 4

ARRESTING THE SAND DRIFT.

SOME INTERESTING PARTICULARS.

Recently the Ahipara Gum Company wrote to the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, asking for information regarding sand reclamation and the methods to he followed to obtain the desired end.

Ahipara is away in the Far North, at the beginning oi( the Ninety Mile Beach, which extends to the farthest point of the northern peninsula, and is chiefly noted for the extent of the Maori population, the plentitude of its shell fish, and the salubrity of its climate. '

The Taranaki chamber referred the matter to Captain Win. Waller, the harbourmaster at New Plymouth, who has made a close study of sand reclamation, and has himself conducted some highly successful experiments at the breakwater, and has succeeded in arresting the sand drift that formerly gave the Harbour Board to much trouble. In the course of his reply, which has been duly forwarded to the Ahipara Company, Captain Waller says: I would advise starting brushwood fences just above high-water mark. These can be cheaply constructed with stakes driven in the sand and three wires, the brush being woven in between them. Any slu-übbry plants will do for the brush, but ti-tree, taukinu and macrociirpa are hard to beat for the purpose. As soon as the fence is completed, if the weather is not too dry, commence and plant marram grass. This will form a mound and arrest the sand from its onward march, cutting off the supply to leeward. When the plants are well established, lupin seeds may be sown and more fences to leeward may be erected as may be necessary, and marram planted. The is to hold the sand from the stalling point near high water mark, and prevent its drift. All grazing animals should be excluded, as they break the surface, and allow the wind to propel and scour out breaches in the sand. It is surprising how quickly the, land benefits from the decaying leaves, of the lupins, and grasses get established, especially prairie grass. I believe the whole of the sandy wastes in the Far North, if judiciously treated, could tie made available for grazing purposes. The Maoris near tin' breakwater have a line crop of potatoes and cabbages growing on sandy land that has been cleared of lupins. The accumulation of luirnus for some years has made it possible for them to do so. T would recommend in sheltered places establishing n plantation of maeroearpa trees, for a future supply of brushwood for the fences. Scatter bushels of taupata (eoprosma bnverinna) seeds if you can get them, over the area. They grow quickly, and stand the salt spray and cutting winds; also karo and kar.ik.i seeds. The lupins are now well established on the south side of Mnnakau Heads, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Ocean Beach, Dunedin, and possibly many other places unknown to me.