DOMAIN BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 53

DOMAIN BOARD.

The members of the Domain Board paii their annual visit of inspection to th^ Ocean Beach Domain on the 11th. Th« member? of the party comprised the chair/ man of the board (Mr J. H. Hancock), Mes.4-8 H. Crust, I. Green, J. Arkle, P. Anderson, and two press representatives. During the tour the members of the board viewed with satisfaction tho exoellent protec. tive work that is being accomplished by thrf pillar groins at the St. Clair end of the' beach, where an extensive body of compact: sand now covers the inroads made by the> south-west seas at this part of the domain. The chairman, whose enthusiasm in regard to all matters connected with tha domain is well known and appreciated, then pointed with p"ride and satisfaction* to the high sand dunes facing the ooean.j and which are now covered from base to summit with richly flowering lupins, iho perfume of which is borne along tho sea-J shore and neighbouring localities., A healthy, and thriving bordering of marram gra;a extends along the 'base of the sand dune* ( from St. Clair to St. Kilda, and affords protection and repose to tho sand abovev and here other patches of marram grass;? planted at intervals, have given protection to the lupins, which now cover the whol<* face of the hills as well as the. gullies andl depressions. From St. Clair the', party, drove, some distance along 'the St. KilcU: ■road, where hurried refreshments werci partaken of, and a visit of inspection way" then made to the brushwood fences o-i groins which have done 80 much to arrest the drifting sand on the beach. Here _ia was observed that extensive- depressions try} the beach which were formerly largo lagoons, after high seas and tides, are now; raised to a considerable height above sea level, and are gradually being brought to a uniform level, which, when completed, will form an extensive promenade plateau giving a splendid view of the beach from end to end. The sand which drifts against the brushwood fences and speedily coversthem is planted over with marram grase.' which, in its turn, arrests further drifting, sand, and thus the process of building up is continued until the .desired solidarity and levels are reached. As an auxilliary to the work of the brushwood fences and the>marram grass the cuttings and branches of lupine in seeding time are placed in' depressions and other suitable spots, andl these, • while assisting to arrest the sand, scatter seeds, which spring up in all directions, forming- a strong jjrowth which binds and holds the sand together during tho work 6f reclamation. Judged by the silent work that- has been don^s by these fence* ,, marram grass, atld lupins at this *eaK' spot in the sandhills, tho time is yer«remote when there will be a possibility of the sea again breaking through and ii>' tin dating portions of the Flat.

"Wanganui has now five members o£ Parliament," said a member of the Chamber of Commerce to a Wamjanui Herald reporter, alluding to the fact that, undet the new alteration of electoral boundaries, the five electorates of Wanganui, Rang* tikei, Pater, Stratford, and Taumaranut include districts abutting on the Wanganui River.