A CRUMBLING LAND MARK

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 6

A CRUMBLING LAND MARK

DISINTEGRATION OF WARD ISLAND Ward Island, in the entrance to Wellington Harbour, opposite Rona Bay, is said to be crumbling away. Those with a knowledge of the island extending over many years, state that the elevated part of Ward Island above high water mark is gradually succumbing to the attacks of the weather. Whether or not it was owing to the verv heavv rain experienced in January cannot be said, but two slips have occurred within the last three weeks, one off the northern headland (on tho Rona Bay side), and one at the extreme south (which renders ■ the task of scrambling round the island a little more difficult than it used to bo. The western side of Ward Island is precipitous. The cliff rises almost perpendicularly to a height of about 60ft. Exposed, to the afternoon sunshine, the cliff presents a bright yellow 'hue, without a vestige of growth of any kind on it. If there is any growth from vagrant seeds from time to time, it does not get time to make any show, as the face of tho cliff is always slipping away in flakes and pieces. At one point towards the northern end tj< plateau at the top of the island is not more Ilian twelve or fourteen feet across. The island is of rotten rock formation, and its penetration bv a number of capes makes it particularly vulnerable to the effects of the weather. The only inhabitants of ilie island, apart from the sea-birds, are rabbits and lizards. * Some six or eight years ago an attempt was made to plant the island with pohutukawa and ngaio trees, but without success.