RECLAMATION OF SAND DRIFTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2647, 18 October 1923, Page 3

RECLAMATION OF SAND DRIFTS.

INSPECTION OP WORK ON THIS COAST. On the invitation of Mr Uoudie, Conservator of Forests, our representative paid a visit to the Forest' Service Camp, situated on the coast line about two miles below the fiangitikei River for the purpose of visualising the work being done by the Forestry Department in reclamation of the sand which are characteristic of this coast. Met by Mr Stringer-, temporarily in charge of the camp, and by, him shown over the work so far- carried out. The work to date is mainly experi-

mental and" various methods have been tried to get the best and cheapest methods to arrest the landward travel of the sand. The principle to be followed in work of this nature has been laid down by the experience gained in Europe in similar work and (he problem here has been to follow out the same principle under the conditions obtaining on this coast. Briefly the basic idea is to build up a fore dune parallel to the coast, sloping from high water mark at an angle of one in six to a height of 30 to 35ft, both sides being plaited. This fore dune has for its object the retention of all the maritime sand and the prevention of further accretions of sand to the land behind the dune. At the experimental station various methods have been tried to build up a continuous fore dune utilising the material available on the spot and ,ns a result.,a cheap and effective method has been evolved by the officers of the, Forest Service Department. When a proper fore dune can he established, the work in the hinterland or “dune complex” consists in planting the bases of the sand hummocks and allowing the crests to he levelled by aeolian action. When once the .travel of bench sand has been-arrested, the problem of fixing the inland drifts is comparatively simple, though the pi’ocess must, necessarily take many years before Ihc work is complete. The work dono by the Forest Service Department, other than experimental work,.consists in building up about 2f miles of fore dune,' planting about 500 acres in raan’nm grass and in the establishment of a nursery for suitable trees. The various steps in the process of sand drift fixation were observed as follows: —(1) Fence the land and establish series for marram and suitable trees; (2) Build up a fore dune to a height of about 30ft. and plant, it: (3) plant all shifting faces with marram and all partially fixed areas with lupins, sowing grass seed wherever possible. (4) As soon as shelter is obtained plant suitable shrubs and trees arranging the planting so that the hardier shrubs act as a brcakwind to the tall timber.

As regards cost, our reporter was not able to get exact details but it is certain that Mr Gondie, in his report next,"month, oh the fixation of sand at the mouth of the Manawatu will give reliable figures. Onr impression is that sand drift can be arrested and these areas be made revenue producing at a comparatively low cost; the time element, however, cannot he eliminated —the process from inception to completion is a long one and demands care, continuity of policy and export supervision. It is certain that no short cut will be found by which the drift of sand can he arrested magically and if the menace has to be met and overcome, the sooner work on standard lines is started, the sooner will the large areas now wasted be made revenue producing and the district as a whole he benefited.