DOMAIN BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22893, 29 May 1936, Page 15

DOMAIN BOARD

ANNUAL MEETING ;'' (■ ■ DUNEDIN'S FINE ASSET * The annual meeting of the Dunedin Ocean Beach Domain Board, was held yesterday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs John Wilson (chairman), J. J. Marlow, J. L. M'lndoe, F. Wilkinson, W. A. Scott, and W. J. Lovell. The chairman welcomed Mr Lovell, a new member, to the board. Mr Lovell takes the position on the board previously held by Mr E. Longworth as the representative of -the Dunedin City Council and the St. Kilda Borough Council. .

Mr Wilson was re-elected chairman Of the board for the ensuing year. .; Mr Scott was re-elected treasurer. 'The chairman moved the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet. He said that the report had been published, and thai it dealt very fully with the ' operations of the board for the year. .Mr Marlow said that he had had an acquaintance with the beach at St. ■ Clair and St. Kilda for the past 50 years, and that a wonderful improvement had been effected there in that .time. There were now some really splendid playing areas adjacent to the beach, and the beach and these areas were a very fine asset to Dunedin. The chairman said that 600 yards of " clay had been placed on part of Hancock Park, and that this portion had been top-dressed. The playing ground had been leased to the Otago Rugby Union. The chairman pointed out that it was necessary to have a foundation of clay when laying out areas.at the beach. Mr M'lndoe referred to the scouring of the sand at the St. Clair end, and said he thought it would be a good thing to have a report on the trouble from a ,rharirie engineer. He suggested that a ! breakwater might be constructed out from St. Clair. What had been done ! in the past to prevent erosion at the beach had been more in the direction of treating symptoms than trying to get at the root of the trouble. Mr M'lndoe . said that four weeks ago the board's workmen had h«d to put in sand bags to • meet the effects of the heavy sea, and that they had had a heavy task, working " Jate at night. ~„ The chairman said that it was just a question whether the planks which had been taken off the groynes at the St. ! Clair end should'be restored. An engineer' whom he had spoken to on the sub-

ject; of erosion had: told him that the sand brought down by the Taieri and S Glutha rivers was in duo course washed along the coast and that this came to rest at their beach. The fact that there had j been no> floods in these two rivers time past had prevented the fiandi coming ; in, as usual. He thought that there was-a good deal in that opinion. .1 He was doubtful if they could get' ari ; engineer to favour a breakwater. ;. They would not know what its ultimate effect might be. The scrub fences put in i on the beach by, their foreman (Mr Wraighfc) had effected a considerable im- ' provement,. The Public Works' Department 'hfcd been asked to look into the "'question of planking on the groynes. ' ,!' Mt.R., A. Johnston, secretary of the • board, 'said;that it had been,considered that before any; major work could be 1 carried out at the beach to meet the erosion it would be necessary to make

a complete survey of the drifts, curH,xent9j etc., in the ocean. The Government had=informed them that this would be a. very expensive work and that '.nothing could be done in the meantime. Mi: P. Wf Furkert. had also contended that the sand came from the Taieri and iClutha:rivers,.. •' '• '■■;', * ..... * The motion was carried. - ' ' In'connection with' the trouble Tegard- ,, ,ing erosidii a t letter;was .received;, from Mr: J*, Jones, Postmaster-general, stat- ) ing it that he would take an early opportunity of "discussing the matter with the Minister of Public Works and see if any funds were available to meet the situation,-• \','.. ''' ' .'/! !: . . , NATIONAL' SURFING CnAMPION- ,";"'■:• Tirrr™■":.: 'SHlPS.'-'':' ; "

A letter was received from the New . Zealand Surf Life Saving Association thanking the board for the- assistance given on the occasion of the national championships l , held at St* Clair. ■ I Mr M'lndoe said he would like to mention Mr Wraigli't for' the assistance given by him in the carrying out of the championships. y *'■&';> UNEMPLOYED WORKERS TO BE i ># DISMISSED. j The chairman gave*, a statement regarding the finances of the board and eaid that they would have £1784 to spend during the year. When their ordinary allocations were covered —that was, maintenance, etc.—they would not be able to meet the new of payment for unemployed men. The extra payment would come ,to something Hke £ 101. They were not allowed an overdraft at the bank, and they would not be able to carry out any new work at all. •'. The secretary stated that there were about 20 unemployed men engaged by the board. Some worked one part of the week and eome the other. These were all good incn. At one time the board had 40 unemployed men working- , *'■'.. Members agreed that the board had no alternative but to dispense with the services of ,the unemployed men, and it was decided that they be given a month's notice. It was further decided to communicate with the City Council and the St. Kilda Borough Council and ask if they could i make a grant to enable the men to be kept on. ■ •'" '■'., ';'■'. LEVY ON LOCAL BODIES.

It was decided to make the usual levy of id in thfe£l on, the annual rental values in the Dunedih'Gity and.St. Kilda. The City will be required to pay £llOB, and St. Kilda £9B. The payment of accounts amounting to £l9lO, as disburse i by the treasurer, was approved. • -. BOOTH TO BE PULLED DOWN. The secretary reported that the Police Department objected .to the' condition of the,small booth on the .left-hand side of the roadjeading on to the.St. Kilda beach. If this booth were not outside the boundaries' of St. Kilda a licence would not have been granted to it. There were no conveniences there, and a family had lived in the email building: . Mr M'lndoe said that the building had originally been given by the late Mr J. C. Marshall to the Pacific Surf Bathing Club as a dressing shed, and part of it had been given by Mr Arthur Hudson. It had fallen back into the hands of the board. It was decided to remove the booth on the expiry of the lease.