PONSONBY LANDSLIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 185, 8 August 1927, Page 8

PONSONBY LANDSLIDE.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES TAKEN. KRKCTION OF CONCRETE BUTTRESSES. The foot of Sentinel Road, where recently occurred a subsidence that threatened the eafety of at least one house, is now a scene of considerable activity. A number of jacks have been placed under Mr. A. J. Billingtpn's residence, which is again restored to the perpendicular. The City Council has xmdertaken preventive measures designed to check all further movement of that portion of the foreshore which threatened to proceed out into the harbour. The access to Sentinel beach has been closed, and the long flight of steps down which bathers are wont to trip merrily in summer months, is at present a solid wooden chute. Thin carries material to the high tide level, where interesting work is now in progress. Against the stone retaining wall half-a-dozen solid sets of concrete stepe have been laid at intervale, and these should act as efficient buttresses. In addition, shafts have l>ecn sunk, and drainage operations have been carried out, while a deep ev.t into the steep slope where Sentinel Road reaches the beach indicates a preliminary to further concrete buttressing.

The beach is one of the most popular bathing resorts on this side of the harbour, and the present work, besides preventing a disastrous landslide, will afford further facilities for bathers. The ladies' dressing shed, a concrete structure, was badly distorted by the sti'u sidence, but it too will receive attention. and there are hopes that a similar structure for men will be erected ere the present job is completed.