TESTING AND BORING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 23, 11 September 1946, Page 5

TESTING AND BORING

THE THREAT TO OHOPE NO FURTHER MOVEMENT Careful observations of the ■ substantial cliff face which showed signs of subsidence at ‘Ohope Beach just prior to last weekend, have revealed that no further perceptable movement has occurred. The matter is still in the hands of the P.W.D., whose qualified engineers are employing all the necessary tests in order to prove the possibility of a major slip or otherwise.

Widespread rumours are still the ‘cause of considerable alarm, but from reports to the press, the movement which has apparently been arrested was caused mainly by water coursing over the stone face, from a pumice feed strata. The flow has almost ceased now and with the continuation of the fine settled weather, it is confidently hoped, permanent consolidation will now take place. The surface cracks which showed a distinct fault-line have been rammed to that end, and whilst not disguising the possibility •of danger to a number of houses below the face concerned the observers are fully satisfied with the checks made to date. It is hoped by the end of the week to be able to make an official statement on the position. A feature of the subsidence is that the worst patches are situated on the open cliff face, away from the matted Pohutukawa roots which trees clothe the major portion of the slope on this part of the beach, and which in this instance must have provided a protective mat for consolidating the soil. /