PREVENTING SAND DRIFT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2674, 20 December 1923, Page 4

PREVENTING SAND DRIFT.

CONSERVATOR’S VIEWS. Mr H. A. Goudie, Conservator of Forests, has just completed a twodays’ visit of inspection of the Foxton area at the mouth of the Manawatu River, his object being' the formation of a scheme to prevent the sand drifting into the mouth of the river, and thereby blocking flood discharges and hampering navigation. The present activity in this matter was intiated by the Mana-watu-Oroua River Board, with the co-operation of the Foxton Harbour Board, both of these bodies being deeply interested in the solution of the problem which is an important one, and affects in some degree the whole of the Manawatu district.

Apart from the drainage aspect, the reclamation of the sand dune area' in this vicinity is a matter of national importance, and hundreds of thousands of acres are either wasting, or producing only a small portion of the wealth that they could produce under systematic treatment., by fixation of the sand and amelioration of the soil. On his return to Palmerston N. from Foxton, Mr Goudie told a “Times” reporter that when the River Board was considering the straightening of the Manawatu river at the Foxton Heads, it would also have to consider the reclamation of the sand areas. There was no scheme for river improvement, which would be complete without taking into account the stabilisation of the sand adjacent to the river mouth. He felt sure that if they did not become engaged on the sand question a great deal of their work would beMiseless. The coast line in this vicinity was “making” all the time and the sand was being blown up into the river, being washed out to sea, and then being blown back again in a perpetual circle. This would undoubtedly continue if the board did not adopt the wise policy of checking it.

“The Foxton people,” continued Mr Goudie, “no doubt look upon the place as a. port, and if they are to derive any benefit therefrom the bar must be kept open, and the sand kept from the channel. Tt is possible to fix the sand at the mouth of the river and to makit the drift on to the bar practically a negligible quantity.” n It had been suggested, said Mr Goudie, fhat: a scheme be adpoted similar to that operated by the Government at the mouth of the Rangitikei River at the present time. This would be a very wise move, as the large areas of sand at Foxton would sooner or later have to be treated in a similar way. The Department was doing a great deal of good in the Rangitikei area in showing the people the best why to treat travelling sand. Erperiments had been tried in various parts of the world, but none of them had been a success until the Department’s efforts in the area mentioned. A vast number of experiments were being carried out, each of which produced some fresh development in the work, and the results bad fully justified the establishment of the experimental station there. If this was the solution of the Foxton problem, then that alone would justify it, and other parts of the Dominion would derive great benefit also. Mr Goudie forebore to discuss the question of cost of a scheme for the Foxton work, though he ventured the opinion that to successfully bind the sand, the cost would not be excessive.