SECTIONS LOST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 117, 19 May 1945, Page 6

SECTIONS LOST

LAND SLIPS INTO SEA

POINT CHEVALIER DAMAGE

About one-third of an acre of land above the southern end of the Point Chevalier Beach subsided to-day as a result of the heavy rain and broke over the retaining wall to extend about 30 feet into the sea. The greater part of two adjacent private sections, Nos. 46 and .50, Harbour View Road, were carried away by the slip. The first indication of anything unusual having happened came when Mr. A. B. Braden, occupier of the house on No. 46, heard a rumbling sound early this morning. He was not alarmed, however, and assumed that the noise was made by the wind or by thunder.

| ""It looked as though a ten-ton bomb had hit the place," said Mr. Braden, in describing the damage. Half the section, which lies on a gentle slope towards the beach, had shifted out to the sea, taking with it a garden path, garden seats and part of the back lawn. Whole trees had been uprooted and what was left of the path ended abruptly about half-way down with a sheer drop to the beach. It is not yet known whether Mr. Braden's house is in danger, although it is thought that the slip may extend with further rain. The neighbouring section, of which Mr. F. Dignan is the occupier, was similarly affected. Many carefully-tended fruit trees, plants and extensive pathways were destroyed.