THE ST. CLAIR BEACH.

Evening Star, Issue 17528, 7 December 1920, Page 10

THE ST. CLAIR BEACH.

TO IHX KDIXOE. Sir, —Is if not a farce that the present Ocean Beach Domain Board will still carry on their spoiling of the beauty of St. Clair beach by driving more unsightly piles, which have already proved that they .are neither use nor ornament? The present condition of the beach is ample proof that these groynes are no use, as during the recent southerly gales abont 15ft of sand has been completely washed away, •and that in spite of the new double row of piles driven into the sand which has cost hundreds of pounds—which is simply money wasted. The wisest course to pursue now would be to desist from the present obsolete methods, pull up all the piles they have put in, and sell them for what they can get for them; then start at the shore end of .the baths and build a boulder wall about 4ft high, cementing the boulders together to make a homogeneous mass. .The boulders lying at present on the beach might be used. The wall should be about 20ft wide at the base and 4ft high, with a slope of 1£ to 1. This work could prob ably be done by the young men of the City who have the interests of Dunedin's fine _ watering-place at heart, forming working bees, the machinery, supervision, and cement to be supplied by the board. These methods have been used in other towns in New Zealand. Why not Dun- ■ edin? This rabble wall would form a barrier on -which the force of the waves would expend itself, leaving comparatively calm water inside at high tide, which .would in time fill up with sand. Small drain holes would require to be left in the rubble wall for ebb and flow of the tide, so as to allow the space between the rabble wall and the esplanade to fill np during flowing tide. This space would also provide safe bathing for the children, and the whole plan would not be unsightly when finished.—l .am, etc., R. Waieee. December 6.