ST. CLAIR BEACH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17913, 19 April 1920, Page 4

ST. CLAIR BEACH.

TO' THE EDITOB. Sib,—l hop© that the mind of the general public will Ijo focussed on the absolute necessity of commencing operations forthwith to preserve the foreshore, and thus prevent what otherwise will prove a disastrous affair—namely, a break by the sea through the sandhills to St. Kilda and South Dunedin. J suggest that a general meeting of Ihe public should appoint a committee of inJluential men, with an energetic secretary, io organise and oonduct an urgent appeal to all and sundry for contributions to form a fund to extend tho esplanade for such a, distance towards St. Kilda that no more dangers of the loss of our foreshore may be Reared for a long tim® to come. As a great lover of St. Clair and its bench for over 40 years, I may be permitted to say that I did not approve of the groins. They wcro a sad eyesoro from the timo they were placed there at first, and now we see that they have not proved the success it was hoped they would be in stopping: the erosion of the sandhills. I have formed the opinion that the groins were the can so of disturbing tho sand to such an extent that they were % menace to the sandhills. The great seas pounding on the shore caused a tremendous whirl of tho sand around the groins, and before it could settle again the powerful backwash carried the sand out to sea. This has been going on for a considerable timo. That this is "correct a glanoo at tho present state of affairs at St. Clair will convince, all _ but the most ardent disciples of the groin experiment. I attended a public meeting some timo ago when, this matter "of tho sea encroaching at St. Clair" was discussed, and was much struck by tho remark by Councillor Caldesr, that nature in its wild ipoods would assert itself. Ho approved of a wall, which should be well founded, and with a gentle slope up to it, that would break tho force of the wavea as they reached the wall. I can only say that I am of tho same opinion, so believe in concrete piles of great length being sunk light along the foreshore to, say, opposite Plunlcet street, in aocwrd with the present esplanade, with a small gentle batter up to . it. Sufficient money to carry out thisschemo should _ bo easily got if tho matter wero taken in hand properly, with the assistance of the Government, tho Domain Board, tho Surf-bathing Clubs, and all others interested. St. Clair would have its great asset rnunh enhanced and its attractions greatly improved,—l am, ctc., EDWAKD TBTTHAIt. . Dunedin, April 17.