SETTLERS ASK RELIEF FROM DRIFTING SAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 259, 23 January 1928, Page 14

SETTLERS ASK RELIEF FROM DRIFTING SAND

NORTHERN FARMS MENACED STATE SCHEME SOUGHT It is hoped by the settlers living on the land fringing the Muriwai beach that a comprehensive scheme of marram grass planting will check the drifting sand, which has become a menace to their farms, and which threatens to engulf some of their best producing property. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. O. J. Hawken, who has inspected the locality, says nothing can be done by isolated planting, and unless sufficient finance is available for a complete scheme, it is of no use undertaking the work. Mr. Hawken assured a deputation of local interests on Saturday that he was fully alive to the difficulties raised by the drifting sand menace, and although planting work would provide an admirable vehicle for the relief of unemployed men, efforts on isolated planting would be so much waste.

The area to which Mr. Hawken’s attention was particularly drawn extends for about 20 miles parallel with the Muriwai beach, and lies about three miles inland from the coast. The settlers assert that in some parts the sand has been encroaching on to producing land at the rate of nearly a chain a year. Surveys made . over a period of years show that a general drift of one chain in 10 years occurs on to the farms in the vicinity, some properties, of course, suffering to a greater extent than others. The Minister was conveyed over the greater part of the menaced area, and shown the change which the sand had effected in the bed of the Kainara River, the main road in the vicinity being submerged to a depth of some inches. Urgent requests were made for the institution of a scheme for checking the drift, and offers were made by the farmers that they would transfer land to the Crown without cost :if assurance could be given that the drift would be arrested. It was suggested that the Government should take over the heads of the sand flats for about 10 chains and carry out the planting necessary check the trouble. One property owner said he would hand over 800 acres of sand country to the Government for this purpose.