THE ST. OLAIR ESPLANADE AND THE OCEAN BEACH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9137, 9 June 1891, Page 2

THE ST. OLAIR ESPLANADE AND THE OCEAN BEACH.

A BEEAOH IN THE SANDHILLS.

The extraordinarily severe weather of the last few days has told its tale upon the St. Olair esplanade and the Ocean Beach, and has given point to the prognostications of those who foretold that damage would sooner or later ensue. About half-past 3 yesterday afternoon word was received in town that the sea had broken through the sandhills and inundated the Flat. As usual in such cases the danger was greatly exaggerated, and it may at once be said that there can be no possible risk to life unless a tidal wave should rise, when probably not only the Flat bat the whole of the iowlyiug parts of the coast would suffer. It has to be remembered that ouly on the topof the very highest tides is the Flat below the sea level, and that consequently the worst which can happen is the flow of a few inches of water in the lowest lying parts. But this is a contingency which can and in net be avoided, and which would not have occurred now at the Ocean Beach had the sandhills nob been interfered with. At a point almost immediately opposite the Ocean Beach Hotel a depression in the sandhills occurs, and between this and the beach was a little neck of sand. The high tide of yesterday cut through this, and filled the depression, which thus became a lagoon. This in its turn soon overflowed, and the water ran down the Ocean Beach road for a considerable distance, branching off laterally in the side streets, and flooding the low-lyißg sections. Those of the houses which were not raised far from the ground had their floors flooded, and their inmates would probably ~Beek more comfortable quarters elsewhere. The mayors of St. Kilda (Mr Gourley) and South Dunedin (Mr Wardrop) speedily, engaged a number of men who were preparing sandbags in order to fill the breach as soon as the tide should have sufficiently receded, and thus prevent its readmission. No danger of a breach was anticipated in any other quarter. At the St. Olair end of the beach the damage waß most noticeable. The esplanade has completely succumbed, and the stones of which its face was composed now strew the beach. The concrete portion Bt the extreme end had resisted the inroads of the waves. It !was just getting dark when our reporter left St. Clair, and at that time the esplanade had crumbled away to within a yard of Mr Mitchell's fence. Even then, although it was nearly two hours after high water, the tumultuous waves still struck the base of the perpendicular face, which, being of sand, offered no resistance. What it must have been like at high water was perceptible from the condition of the roadway at the tram terminus, which bore eignß of having been inundated. Even at that time also the waves were making a clean breach over the baths, and rendered the position of the bathkeeper's house very precarious, so much so, that he and his family did not intend to remain there during the night. Some crates filled with stones, which had been placed so as to break the force of thewave3, had their contents strewed in all directions. From the St. Clair point the view along the Ocean Beach was a dismßl one. Where there is usually a broad belt of sand between the sandhills and the water's edge there was a mass of angry water which extended seaward until lost in the deepening gloom, and which had eaten away the foremost slopes of the sandhills and left perpendicular faces as if out with a knife. But the ground is higher behind, and the only vulnerable point at present is that by which the sea made its way inward yesterday. The esplanade has been totally demolished, however, and fears weie expressed that this morning's tide, about 4 o'clock, would also be abnormally high if the gale continued, and would work further damage on the sections fronting the esplanade. In one respect the incident of yesterday will probably result beneficially. The talk about the conservation of the beach will probably be brought to a head and some concerted means be taken for the preservation of property from a danger arising almost entirely from culpable negligence.