CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1921, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SAND COASTAL DRIFT.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In a recent article re the above,' Mr. Maxwell would give the Impression that the sand which is the Taranaki bugbear comes froun coast erosion; surely he doesn’t want the public to believe that, because a more erroreous idea could not be promulgated. He says again the rough top water action does not affect the bottom at any great depth; what is a great depth ,according to him? It can be proved that ip 15 and 20 fathoms off this part of the coast sometimes the bottom is rocky and at others all sand. The sand piles on the coast after north-west gales from a great distance out, and any old residents of New Plymouth can tell you what the beach was years ago, after such gales of course. It is all theory as to where the sand comes from, but I feel It is brought to the sea floor through gas generated far in the bowels of, the earth, and being latent volcanic energy. It may bo in years to come scene tangible evidence will be given. Theory, | of course, Mr. Editor, but It is no more ridiculous than Mr. Maxwell’s contention that our supplj - of sand is from the grinding of our coast by the sea. Now, I would like to mention that several of the oil bores put down around Moturoa have gone through a seam of sand exactly as we have it on the beach, and doesn’t that support the theory that it comes as suggested? In any case, if one takes time to study wave action at the Fishing Rock, and looking to the westward of that place he will notice that every' evidence is shown that sand, coming as suggested from the source he imagines, had a job to got around there. By studying the wave action there, it will be seen that rollers sweeping Into the bay west of Paritutu take in what sand that gets into their power on to tho beach, where it stops, and which years ago covered the land from the bay to Moturoa lagoon. Material from coast erosion to the west of south of the breakwater could not pass the bay mentioned, and get into the Mikotahi channel, nor could it (if Mr. Maxwell’s contention that sand does not shift at great depths is correct) get from the bay or further south without getting along in very deep water. Mr. Maxwell, as a member of the Harbor Board, had better have another try at the sapd solution, and I Imagine there is a chance somewhere in New Plymouth where he can get the necessary—- ■ 1 am, etc., SAND CRAB.