THE Kawhia Settler FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1906, SAND DRIFT?

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 243, 19 January 1906, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1906, SAND DRIFT?

We think it our duty to again call public attention to a constantly increasing nuisance that will, if allowed to continue unchecked, seriously menace the welfare of the Kawhia district in the near future. We refer to the drift sand along the coast. With every gale of vrihid from the ! north west, west, or sositb west —unless accompanied by rain—thousands of tons of sand are sbified inland. This drift is on both sides of Kawhia Heads and extends along the coast for a dozen miles, from Taharoa to the boundary of the Raglan County. South of Kawhia Harbour, at Taharoa, it ia smothering acres and acres of some of ihe beat gri.ss growing land in the county, and. this land that is noted for its fattening qualities for either sheep or oaf tie. Taharoa is native owned, and the owners, though fully conscious of the danger ahead, are unable from want of knowledge and means to keep the sand in check. From Kawhia Heads northwards to Aotea the coast sand has encroached on the mainland in some places as much as a mile-and-a-half, the favourite kumaru plantations of the N’Mahutu at the beach—which some of the present white residents saw under cultivation—are new ten feet under the sand. At and about Pakarikari it is encroaching and covering much valuable land, and threatens to fill up the picturesque Pakarikari Lake. The Government bold large interests in this block, having acquired it from the natives at Is 6d per acre, which price should lesve some margin for improvements. From Aotea Heads along the coast into the boundary of the B*glan County the same nuisance exists. In the interests of all this sand drift should be dealt with at once. Wh would urge that the Kawhia Count* Council move in and make urgent re presentations to the Cabinet with a view to taking some coiioarted action. If means were now taken to stay the drift the cost would i not be exoMve, much valuable land : would be saved in the pres,ent, and / Jwbour ftto,