LYALL BAY SAND-DRIFT

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11705, 18 December 1923, Page 8

LYALL BAY SAND-DRIFT

CITY CDUNOIL’S SCHEME RESIDENTS DECLARE IT “EXPENSIVE AND UNSUITABLE.” MINISTER TO BE SUMMONED. There was a fair attendance at a meeting held at Lyall Bay last evening of those agected by the special charges being made upon those in the area included in the sand-drift area at Lyall Bay. SCHEME OUTLINED. Mr W. H. Morrah presided, and explained the provisions of the Act, and what the counoil proposed to do. Hie works included a spoil and clay bank 10ft wide at the top commencing 150 ft east of Onepu road and immediately alongside the existing sea wall, running parallel to same and rising at a grade of one in 20 till it reaches the height of the existing concrete walls in front of the two houses on Lyall Bay parade; a rubble facing wall grouted in with concrete to be built on the seaward side of the clay bank; the space between the clay bank and the north boundary of Lyall parade x> be allowed to fill up with staud to the level of the day bank, and when filled to be properly gradecU or metalled. TO COST £3700. A second concrete wall is to be erected along the western boundary of the area, the intervening sand to be levelled, dressed with clay and suitably planted, all excess 6and to be removed to where it will be of the most benefit. The whole area described as C on the plan to he securely fenced against trespass. The scheme was estimated to cost £3700. CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE JOINED. Mr Morrah urged that the City Council should be joined in, and they should pay about half the cost. The council owned the road and the beach, and half the trouble was caused by the sand blowing about. The proposed wall would be absolutely useless, for the sand would blow up against it. The road should be kept as Tow as possible. The wall was part of the street formation, and the council wanted the pro-perty-owners to pay for it, but if the council was joined as a party and was assessed with half the cost, that would reduce the assessments of the propertyowners by half. Some of them might feel that they would not be affected by the scheme or were assessed too high. He suggested that they should issue a summons against the Minister for Lands, witn a view to getting the scheme revised. It was utterly extravagant. They only wanted to stop the sand, not to make first-class sections for property-owners. They should hare the sand levelled and fenced, and the whole trouble would stop. “A BROKEN COVENANT.” Mr J. H. Ryder said that some

years ago Crawford’s Trustees made a gift of land to the City Council, and one covenant was that the parade at Lyall Bay front should be formed and entrance gates made to the park within. 14 yeans. That period expired last March. He went to the City Council but was bluffed from A to Z that the covenant was blotted out by a subsequent purchase. As a resident at Lyall Bay for some years he said the trouble was due to the sandhills, the aggregation of 50 years. The matter . had not been competentlv dealt with, and property owners must now take drastic action. If they went to the Minister and - showed him the absurdity of the thing he would grant Item ielief. The real solution of the problem was simple and would involve very little cost. Lyall Bay Parade wanted covering with rotten rock and clay, and the sections levelled and hound up in the same way. and the sand drifts would be settled for ever.' The chairman said the scheme was costly and would not benefit them, and the magistrate had power to vary it. He thought it could be done for half the sum. In reply to questions it was stated that the Minister could proclaim the sand drift area, and could excludo certain sections from it. The appeal to the Minister had to be made by January 26th t and as the holidays were intervening something should be done at onoe. Another turner stated that he knew of a. sand area which had been effectively treated by growing lupins on it. ' The Act had only been applied once before in New Zealand, and they should approach the Minister and tell .him the scheme was inadequate and unsuitable for the purpose. “AS WELL PAY AS FIGHT.” It was reported that there were 98 owners affected by the scheme, and one, who said he was assessed at £9, said he might as well pay as go to other expense in fighting the matter. Mr Ponder said he was anxious that in opposing tho scheme they should not oppose the application cf the Act. On ihe motion of Mr Ryder it was decided to form a committee with a view to issuing the summons against tho Minister of Lands to proto against the present scheme, and nearly all of those present agreed to contribute 5s each towards the expenses. The committee is composed of Messrs J. H. Ryder, W. H. Morrah, J. Alexander, R. Stanford, Geo. Hornig, G. H. Rowell and J. P M. Madson, with power to add. _ They are to report to another meeting at an early date, and the support of the remaining property owners affected is to be sought. * An endeavour will he made to join the City Council as liable to bear a portion of the cost.