The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1923. SANDY POINT DOMAIN.

Southland Times, Issue 19100, 19 November 1923, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1923. SANDY POINT DOMAIN.

An examination of the Sandy Point Domain on the estuary side, in paradoxical fashion, supplies the most impressive evidence of the value of the work being done by the Borough Council along the Riverton beach toward the river mouth. There it is possible to see the immense dunes which are marching forward to the estuary covering with sand everything in their path. Great spits thrusting out into the estuary show the work of the sand blown from the Riverton beach, and they suggest, with the powerful argument of demonstration, that the primary work in connection with the beach is the establishment of a great dune protection which will anchor the sand. This long foredune, however, is only a portion of the work, and the protection of the estuary is only a portion of the objects to be gained. The Council has under consideration a big planting scheme which may be expected to develop into a rich investment for the borough in about forty years’ time, but attractive though this prospect may be, it might not prove convincing were it not for the fact that, carried out in conjunction with the expert treatment of the sand dunes, it should lead to the proper development o! the Riverton beach as a pleasure resort. The erection of a great -foredune will provide shelter for those using the beach, and it will lead to the recovery of the sandy waste behind the protective heights. As part of such a scheme a bridge across the estuary from Otatara becomes essential, and this bridge will be an important factor in popularising the beach. At the same time there are some exquisite patches of native bush on the estuary side which will undoubtedly be smothered unless something is done to stop the forward march of the sand, while the erosion of the Otatara side of the Oreti constitutes a problem in which the operations on the sand dunes have their part. A comprehensive report on the domain and its possibilities is being prepared for the Council by Mr Smith, of the Forestry Service, who has carried out a survey of the area and has been directing the work so far accomplished in the erection of the coastal dune, and when it is before the Council it will be possible to see whether the borough is in a position to go forward with this essential work. By the time this report is presented, however, the period of Mr Smith’s engagement will have expired, but some months must elapse before the corporation can obtain the necessary authority to go on with the afforestation scheme, and it would, therefore, appear desirable to secure an extension of Mr Smith’s engagement so that he may put in hand further work, requiring the attention of an expert, to deal with the wandering dunes, which, in our opinion, must be attacked whatever may be the fate of the bigger project. The Forestry Service has evinced such interest in this matter so far that there should be little difficulty about securing Mr Smith’s services for another few months, particularly as the successful treatment of the Sandy Point Domain will open the way to on a larger scale on the hinterland of the Riverton beach and in other parte of the Dominion. So much, is involved in the Sandy Point Domain project that the Town Council should use every endeavour to secure the services of Mr Smith for the next few months and for the greater scheme if it is taken up.