SAND DRIFT.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 9 May 1919, Page 4

SAND DRIFT.

At the* meeting of tho ,Wanganui Chamber of Commerce this week a letter was received from the Foxton Chamber of Commerce urging that Mesesrs Field, Newman and Veitch, M.g.'s, 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 coastline between Paekakariki and Wanganci, and to recommend the Crown to acquire such waste lands for afforestation or other purposes. Mr A. E.. Campbell considered there was no trouble to stop the sand-drift, as was done at other places. Thousands of acres had been reclaimed in Nerr Zealand. In the area referred to the

Government owned a lot of land along the coast, but had taken no 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 Otaki, right on the sand. The President said that publie 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 io stop, ercsioa at Moawhanga domain, and one settler at Kai Iwi had lost about twenty, seres, of land. Mr .A. Harris related an instance where a road was made on the block of land between tho mouths «f the Btnigii'ikei and Manawata rivers. It was clear on a Saturday, but i-n the following Mondsy had nine feet depth of sand over it. There "were ether cases ] svhere in'a few weeks land was covered iO or 50 feet with sand, while other . land was uncovered. , ""'The President considered that up to 1 Waitatara Point should be taken in. j - With this addition it was decided to support the Fosrton -Chamber, slso to :nlist the help of Mi Pearee 3 <-M.P.— ±Waagaaui Chronicle." _ ■ , _