SAND DRIFT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9115, Issue 9115, 11 January 1910, Page 6

SAND DRIFT.

MR. W. H. FIELD'S EXPERIMENTS. The members of the Sand Drift Committee set up by the Levin. Borough Council and the Hoiowhenua County Council, made a visit to Mr W. H. Field's 'property at Waikanae on Saturday last to inspect the sand drift areas and the work that has been done in the way of arresting the sand. There were present:—The Mayor (Mr B. R, Gardener) and Borough Councillors Cameron, Hudson, Palmer, France, Lancaster, Prouse. Arcus, and Hannan; County Councillors Watson (chairman), Richards, Windlev, Freeman, and Prouse, and Mr Malcolm (County Engineer). Mr Rod M'Donald, an old resident of the district, accompanied the party, and he bore witness to the change in the face of the countrv. The residents of Levin a few years ago induced the Government to lay off an area at the mouth of the Hokio stream for a seaside townside. A small area was set apart. All the sections are taken up on lease and a small collection of dwellings have been erected by residents of Levin for holiday purposes. The beach here was for many years the only road north from Wellington, and the daily coach servico down the'beach will be remembered by many old residents. The beach below high water mark forms a magnificent drive, the wet sand being almost as hard as a metalled road. For miles around the small township the land is owned by the natives. When Levin vas first settled there was comparatively little drift in this locality, but in recent years the drifts have gradually increased in size until the scene, as viewed from one of the sand hills by the party, had the appearance of a desert of white sand. Up and down the coast as far as could be seen stretched one area of almost white drift sand. On the north 6ido of the Hokio stream there is an exception illy drift, which extends inland with one break for about three miles. It has covered in its progress an oid native burying ground with a depth of about 40 feet of sand. The road out to the beach goes over one of the drifts which has spread inland, gradually, until there is at the present time about half a- mile of heavy sand to be negotiated, which makes travelling very difficult. The problem was recognised by the party to be a very difficult one. but in view of the constant extension of the trouble the feeling was that something will have to be done. A conference between the local bodies will probably be held at an early date to consider the question of the best means of coping with the evil.