EXTENSION OF THE ESPLANADE

Evening Star, Issue 15607, 25 September 1914, Page 8

EXTENSION OF THE ESPLANADE

QUESTION BEFORE THE BOARD. COhTTERENcITsitGGESTED. The question of the extension of the. esplanade from St. Clair to St. Kilda, us suggested by the Dnnedin Expansion League, waa further considered by the Ocean Beach Domain Board at a 'meeting held yesterday afternoon, when the following jnemberk were present : Messrs J. H. Hancock (chairman), W. Burnett, J. B. Shacklock, G. Hodges, and J. E. White. Messrs J. Blair Mason and W. I>. R. M'Curdie were also in attendance.

'* Tho Sc< re tarv of the Km ploy merit an< ;'■ Relief Committee of the Otago Patrioti '° and General Welfare Association wrot stating that the committee had resolve* [ ' that the erection of the proposed esplan .v ade was a work of which the eommitte '- heartily approved., and: as soon as ar it rangements were completed for the worl i® to be commenced they would use i w as a means of relieving uneinploymen r- caused, by the war. The committee' wer it extremely anxious that the board shouh ■« avail themselves of the offer at ono t with a viovv to relieving the present Mat ?- of the unemployed. <e> -Mr M'Curdie wrote enclosing a oopi i- of correspondence between Mr Blaf; >. Mason and himself since the last meet I. ing of the board, pointing out that th< ;. three letters contained nocessarv sugges e tious on the subject of the sand 7ieai I. the Bt. Cl.iir end of tho drive. : } The following is the coi respondent |. referred to : t Mr W. D. Tl. M'Curdie. City En e Kineerr, Dunedin. Sir, —Re. "Ocean u Beach road : T have to thank von foi 0 sending me a plan shoeing pYoposwi u beach road between St. Clair and St a Kilda. Referring to our visit to the a Ocean Beach of the 31st ult., and yom e request for ray views on the proposal j to construct a road along the beach adjacent, to high-water surf mark, I am ,» of opinion that a permanent barrici ;■ of Bands, fixed bv pcrovning or l-.v vegetation, should .isi-ervene boSi t-ween the proposed road and the extreme surf limit. Section A-B on plan appears to provide for this, and ( . shows a road of 30ft width, with t carriage way of 22ft. Bv judicious extension of sand screens', or sea. groynes, between points I and 2 on i pian the beach could be built up and the high-water surf line pushed sea- £ wards, so as to permit of a road of greater width than above, say 66ft. being formed. The extension "of the Sl Clair concrete sheet pile wfiA to > point 2 would be costly, and would, at the same time, necessitate the construction of protecting groynes to hold ; and accumulate the sands along its base. Even with this latter preoauL tion there would exist the danger of the surf during heavy weather with spring tides reaching to and reacting against the wall, with results prejudicial to its safety and the maintenance, of the sand beach.—Yours faithfullv, J. Blair Mason - . Mr J. Blair Mason, M.1.0.E.. Engineer. Otago Harbor Board. ' The Ocean Beach Domain Board considered the principles laid down in vour ; letter of (September 3. advising what ( is necessary along the 24 chains front Forbury road eastwards. The. board. ;■ taking advantage of your land proposal ' to help them with further advice, if needed, ask tliat you advise them as under : What is to become of the sand that it is feared will accumulate between the proposed road and the water a longthat front? Much discussion took place on this point, the Chairman expressing the opinion that nothing will prevent a great accumulation thereof sand, that will ultimately swamp the road, except a continuation of the present concrete construction of the esplanade. He attributes the entire absence of blown sand on the esplanade to the coping of the present wall. 1 suggested that your proposal was to accumulate the i-and to a reasonable, height by groynes or vegetation out a* far as the sea, would permit: that the. sand thus accumulated would come and :go with the weather; that the accumulated sand might bo sold or given away; that it could be run to sea with a little water from the town main when necessary. The board unanimously and repeatedly and individually exprejssed their wish to hear your opinion personally, and they invite you, if you can possibly make it convenient to attend, to come to their meeting on Tuesday next to speak to them. In the meantime, you are. asked to be so .kind as to write au answer to this letter, that J may hand in for record, saying- what you think is the best way of dealing with the sand thai may require to bp | dealt with in front of the first section of the proposed road from Forburv road. ~-l nm. etc., W. D. R. M'Ccrpik, City Engineer. Mr VY. D. R. M'Curdie. Sir, - Be Ocean Reach load. ! am in receipt of your letter of the 18th inst, with respect to mine of the 3rd idem, requesting my views as to dealing with sand that may be drifted on to the first section of the proposed roadway. Your letter mentions the suggestion" of tho extension of the St. Clair esplanado wall as a means of preventing the sand from drifting on to the Toad. It has been pointed out, however, that the extension of the esplanade wall would be dangerous unless flanked by groynes to ensure its protection from the sea, no that, regarded as a sea defence, the wall would not be required. There, is no doubt but that the proposed roadway will be subject to *and accumulation at some points, but by judicious regulation of the .groyning and grass planting I believe it may be kept within reasonable bounds. The extension of the wall to prevent the sand from drifting over the roadway requires that the .fiirf must at times reach its base. This is the xery danger that must bo guarded against; and. if so guarded against, the wall would, if the sands accumulate as said, become- buried and useless for any sand-stopping purpose.—l am, etc., ,j. Bi.Airt Mason, engineer. The board discussed the whole question with Mr Mason at considerable length. In reply to one question the Engineer said that he thought that the board would I not. be risking a great deal in constructing the road, but pointed out later that they would be subject more, or less to sand trouble, adding that it was one of the things that could not be avoided. The question of maintenance of the road was briefly discussed, it being stated tliat the income of the board was only £350 a.. year. The Chairman said that If such a road were made the cost of upkeep would be considerable. The board would have, to keep the road in order. Mr Burnett said that one would think that the City Council would only be too pleased to take over the maintenance of the Toad. Mr Hodges said that when Mornington and St. Kilcla- amalgamated with the City the Domain Board could be. merged into the Reserves Committee of the Citv Couuoii. Mr Burnett asked if Mr Mason thought, it possible to fall in with the citizens' proposals. Mr Mason replied that he certainly thought it was feasible. Eventually the Chairman said thai there was the .question of plans and specifications. Mr M'Curdie said he would prepare them. Finally it was agreed that the secretary should writ« to the Expansion League asking that his committee should meet a committee of the board in conference to deal with the question of providing material for the road and other matters.