THE ENCROACHMENT AT ST. CLAIR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9147, 20 June 1891, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE ENCROACHMENT AT ST. CLAIR.

TO THE EDITOR.

g IB —Now that the question of the encroachment by the sea at St. Clair and Ocean Beach is prominently before the public, and is likely to be the subject of a public meeting at no distant date I think the public should use every effort to strengthen the hands of the locsl councils who have the matter in charge, so that when the moment for acting comes there may be a united and hearty effort from every quarter of the city and suburbs to deal with this oft-recur-ring trouble in such a thorough manner as may do credit to the public spirit of Dnnedin. The problem of how best to protect the coast is twofold, and the more important is the question of the ocean currents. Something has happened to caase the current to sweep into the bay at St. Clair end steadily to carry the sand, forming the beach, away to the north. Whether this is because some natural barrier of rock has been removed by those who did not calculate on the consequences, I must leave it to those who know the ancient history of St. Clair to say; but if there be good reason to believe that the destruction of the beach is due to some such cause, then surely the first step is to replace she demolished barrier and carefully note the effects. If, however, it ia considered that the present coui'se of the prevailing current is natural and beyond the control of man, then there is only the second portion of the problem to consider—viz, assuming that no solid foundation can be found in the sand for a new esplanade wall, what is the moat enduring structure that can be raised? I don't know anything more likely than piles driven in to a depth of say 10 or 12ft and backed by a lining of stout planks; behind this would go the solid body of the esplanade—stones and carth —nicely levelled on top and, unless intended as a carriage drive and dressed with road metal, covered with asphalt, so as to carry off ,the surface water and afford a clean dry walk underfoot in all weathers.

It is not to ba denied that there are many who consider that it is useless to do anything, and the reasons they give for such convenieHtly 'opinions are both flimsy and various.

All the citizens are morally bound by the unwritten laws of public spirit to maintain and, if possible, to improve the amenities of our city and suburbs. If wo neglect our duty in thia respect we render ourselves liable .to disagreeable taunts and honie thrusts from those who refuse to look wi'h a charitable eye on our miserable makeshift of a fashionable watering place, »iul listen with impatience to our pitiful tale of the sea, glnDeiDg meaningly all tho while towards our piles of warehouses and imposing private residences.—l am, &c, June 10. Onlookbb.

Tho rCromwellj'Arf:iis nays that the ranges havo now a better coating of inw than they have had for two or three yean.