TAHUNA LAND SLIP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 19 July 1929, Page 3

TAHUNA LAND SLIP

(To the Editor) ,Sir ; —Nobody can view the present state of things" at Tahuna without realising its seriousness, more especially those, who like myself have had to deal with similar slips before. Even if we are through with the wet weather, I consider several houses are doomed, and the Hocks Koad likely to be closed to traffic. Tahuna is pretty helpless in the face of so formidable a problem as is presented by acres of land creeping down the hill side, and personally, I consider that as it is so great an asset to Nelson city, the sooner we. throw in our lot with them, and saddle ourselves with their troubles, besides enjoying their beach and bathing facilities, the better, flow to help at once is a difficult enough problem, but 1 hope we shall see a subscription list opened for those who are likely to lose then- homes. From an engineering standpoint I could write a good deal., but will confine myself to what 1 consider the most urgent step, any delay in which may lead to incalculable trouble. The most formidable development has occurred during the last few days, when the sea wall, having withstood the stress of earth pressure, the road has lifted, thereby relieving the local pressure, and facilitating movement in the bank at the road side which may affect the whole hillside. Now this vent, and other possible vents of the same sort—due probably in the first instance to water pressure —should be closed at once at all cost. A thick reinforced concrete road surface will probably be necessary eventually, but as this would be difficult to cany out while movement is' taking place, the next best thing to do is to weight the toe of the bank and road surface, and so prevent further movement. .Fortunately the means, are at hand, as there are any amount of boulders on the beach below. What is wanted is for the Tahuna Town Council immediately to put up a temporary staging up the wall face, so that boulders can be lifted from the beach and carried across the road. A few hundred willing hands are then all that is necessary, together with the loan or hire of a crane or two, if such can be obtained for the bigger boulders. By this means the movement should be stopped at the bottom, and this will add support to the ground further up, though nothing, I fear, will arrest the upper portion from continuing to slip, until a new position of stability lias been reached. ' Another suggestion which I owe to General Wallack, is that the road be closed to all except light traffic, as the vibration of heavy buses and lorries is iikely to accentuate any movement. I am etc.. H. G. FOSTER EAEHAM. Nelson, 18th July.