ST. CLAIR SANDHILLS

Evening Star, Issue 17365, 29 May 1920, Page 6

ST. CLAIR SANDHILLS

MEETING OF DOMAIN BOARD. CITY" COUNCIL INVITED TO TAKE CONTROL. A special meeting of the Domain Board was hold yesterday afternoon to consider what immediate action should, he taken to stop the. -erosion of the sandhills at St. Cliiir. Mr J. H. Hnncock presided, and there were also present Messrs Green, Wilson. Dove, Clark, Shaddock, and the City Engineer (Mr M'Curdie). The clerk read a letter from the Town Clerk, Dunedin. forwarding a copy of the following resolution, which was passed by the City Council at their meeting on Wednesday night :—"That this council are strongly of the opinion that temporary measures should, bo taken at once by tho Domain Board to protect the St. * Clair bench, and ask the board to give effect immediately to this resolution; further, that a sum of money sufficient for the pur-pose—-viz., £2so—bo now voted by the council." Mr Wilson : If wo are going to discuss the means to be taken, I move that we go into committee. Tho Chairman : Not just vet, Ho proceeded to read the City Engineer's report, which was as follows : " The recent storm has raised a heavy ground swell, which, aggravated by the low barometric pressure," has been causing the_ removal of much sand about St. Clair. This_ (Friday) morning, long before high tide, breakers were dashing against tho foot of the strep slope of the sandhill and moving much'' sand. It is much to be regretted that the long summer has slipped away in one delay after another, and that we are now into stormy weather, in which our work must bo carried on at greatly-increased cost, and with a corresponding reduction in the amount of work that will be done with the present vote. The Government have not yet authorised the doing of the work on day wages, although they were informed Ion:; ago flint no tend.-r could be obtained in answer to our advertisement. Without authority from the Government, ihe piles have been ordered, and delivery is promised to commence in about two weeks' time. As the waves are now breaking against the steep face of tho sr.ndhiil. there is no safe retreat into which the pile-driving plant may bo hauled when attacked by storms. A new line of procedure must therefore be. taken. It may he necessary to make, each groin a double tow of piles with tho piledrive, etc., on tho top, above wave level. This matter is under discussion now between tho writer and Mr Baker (Public "Works engineer). Details of what is propose! will be laid before the board, with cirt data, as soon as the Public Works Department comes t-o a conclusion. The. Government should bo rrnred to let the engineer keep in the closest touch with us, as in the meantime the Public Works Department does not K<?em to feel that th'.s close contpct is so urgent as it really is. It is imperative that the Public Works Department should cive all possible help. It would he well to stop tho erosion in front of the bathing boxes, the Surf Bathing Pavilion, arid Cr M'Dor.nld's properly at once by scrub I and rock placed where the wave? are | striking and carrying away the sand. I have seen Mr Wi'kio this morning, and he _is arranging that his men will he available for us when the piles begin to coma to hand. I have, had thrca "interviews with Mr Baker. He took the trouble to come out to St. Clair to ree me on Tuesday evening, hut directions from headquarters, as already suggested, are necessary to give hint a proper standing, as the Government view seems to be that it is a local matter. Government authority to proceed with tha work on wp.ges should be urged." Mr Dove said he did net hold with the Mr Wilson : I move that we now go into committee. Mr Dove rejoined that he saw no reason why they should, and Mr Clark agreed with him. Mr Wilson : AH right; have it your own way. I have reasons for it. The Chairman : I approve of the engineer's Teport in toto." Mr Dove thought the St, Kilda Council would he ready to send along another J-JSO to assist the board. Mr Clark asked when the engineer would be prepared to start with "these temporary measures. The En.riv.eer : To-morrow. Mr Clark said he. was perfectly satisfied to leavo tho whole thing in the" hands of the engineer as' long as he took tho responsibility. Mr Green then moved the adoption of the report, which was agreed to. Mr Clark moved : " That the Citv engineer be Instructed to proceed with temporary protective works "at St. Clair, at a cost not exceeding £250, and anv sums that may be subscribed." This was earned. s Mr Clark said he thought the Domain Jboard should be vested in the Citv Council. It was one thing for the Citv council to pass a vote of no-confidence in the beam and another for tho board to consider, calmly what was best to be done, it ...t, Ailda was prepared to maintain Its ouota of the revenue, he thought it would be more satisfactory to have the City Council in control. It was absoWly farcical to have a public bedv with an income of only a f<nv hundred pounds a- year. Mr Dove said St. EMa was quite prepared to shoulder the burden, and how anyone could read anything else into the know OCmClls "solution he did not Mr Clark then moved : « That the Citv Council _bo informed that this board are of "Pinion that it would bo in the best public .interest ,f their functions were vestoc m the council, provided satisfactory arrangements can bo mado with St Kilda. Mr Wilson seconded the motion, -which ■was earned.