THE PROTECTIVE WORKS AT ST. CLAIR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11276, 21 November 1898, Page 3

THE PROTECTIVE WORKS AT ST. CLAIR.

TO THE EDITOK.

Sir, —Referring to the advertisement by the Ocean Beach Domain Board of a poll of the burgesses to be taken on the proposal to levy a rate for construction, as stated, of works at St. Clair, to which my name is necessarily appended as chairman of the board, I desire to protect myself from the inference that I personally am responsible for the proposal, or that I in the smallest degree approve of the utterly preposterous, scheme, as it appears to me, which it is intended to provide for. At the meeting of the board on the 26th ult., IMr A. C. Begg was absent, and tho persistent advocates of Mr Reynolds's scheme had it all their own way and carried their resolution nem. com. ■ . :

I would point out that tho only thing at St. Clair of interest to the general public is the maintenance of the beach at that part of it which is sheltered from the south-west, and which is the playground of the city. Mr Petre's advice, which was accepted and approved of by the board, and which carries the general assent of both professionals and non-; professionals, is to let alone the beach, as it has been formed by natural forces at work for thousands .of years, and will be maintained by the same forces in all time to come, if let alone. It is now just what it has always been, tho sand coming and going with the changes of prevailing winds within known limits, but its bounds ' being unchanged.

The wall recommended by Mr Petre is simply a replacement of that previously erected by Mr Smith, but with foundations deep enough to prevent its being undermined by tho movement of the sand as was the old -wall, and'its structure concrete instead of loose stones.. Not in any sense a sea wall, but a retaining wall above high water and out of reach of the sea, its purpose being the protection of the Esplanade, and its estimated cost (apart from filling behind, which is out of the board's province) £550—well within the estimated amount of the first year's rate; that is, £780. The rates of succeeding years would then be available for fencing and planting tbe domain, and, if thought desirable, continuing the wall with the roadway inside it eastward, along the outer toe of the Sandhills, estimated to cost £60 to £70 per chain.

Mr Reynolds's scheme is.the reverse of all this. The beach, instead of being maintained, is to he destroyed, to be covered by thousands of tons of stone with great groins of rubble run out 200 ft into the sea! . AVhy? To reclaim a part of the Pacific Ocean by-disputing its boundary? and, if so, for what purpose? Then the cost. As a preliminary, a road to Boulder Beach and plant are set down at £1320, which would practically mean two years' rates to be spent before the work is .commenced, and the other three years' rates would remain, say, £2100, for carrying out the great work. If the burgesses are content to vote for a rate to be so applied, I shall be very much astonished. All questions of fencing and improving the domain would perforce be postponed indefinitely.—l am, etc., . November 19. E. B. Caiigij.-