SEA EROSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1919, Page 5

SEA EROSION.

POSITION AT NEW PLYMOUTH. REPORT TO BOROUGH COUNCIL. Messrs Blair Masoji and Lee who were specially asked to report on the matter submitted the following report to the Borough Council last night on the question of sea erosion at Wooleombe Terrace and the East End Reserve:— Every opportunity has been taken to observe the action, of the sea at the fore.shore between the railway station and the Henui river. After referring to' the condition* the report says:—"The character of the material admits of easy erosion by the sea, and the encroachment, made mqre visible to-day by the proximity of fixed boundaries such as street lines, has without doubt been in progress for a long period of time. There is a strong presumption that the rate of encroachment has been accelerated of late .years through interference with the natural condition of the shore between I 'high and low water by the removal of stone and boulders. These latter formed a natural barrier against the seas, tvliich thereby lost much of their power to undermine and damage the eliffy shore. What may be viewed, however, as the more serious result of the removal of boulders, is the scouring away of the easily-eroded shore between high and low water marks and the consequent lowering of the beach. This action al-' lows the waves to break with ever increasing force against the cliff face. If not stopped it is inevitable that Woolcombe Terrace and the Plantation Reserve will more or less rapidly melt way and disappear. "The diagnosis of the cause suggests the means necessary to slow down or stop the injurious effects described and now taking place. These are confined to (a) Placing heavy rock and boulders along the shore upon which the seas can expend their energy and protect the cliff and shore from wave action. (b) Facing the cliff and shore with a solid concrete wall high enough to be above the wash of heavy seas and so entirely protect the soft and easily-eroded cliff material. '"Referring to remedy (a) it becomes a question of an adequate supply of suitable stone from a source other than the beach itself. The stone of the seaward part of any protecting wall would require to be in not less than 5 ton masses to prevent their displacement by breaking seas. As there is no easily available and cheap source of such stone, consideration is advised to be given, to remedy (b). "This proposal consists in extending a concrete sea wall along the base of the cliffs from the end of the stone protection wall of the railway department to a suitable point south of the pavilion neai; the Henui river. To prevent undue drift sand and shingle along the base of the wall, short buttresses or "grpyao-caa be alc^sd