SANDY POINT

Southland Times, Issue 21220, 22 October 1930, Page 2

SANDY POINT

WORK ON THE DOMAIN. . A report front the superintendent of reserves (Mr J. A. McPherson) on sand fixation work on Sandy Point Domain was before the City Council last evening. The report stated: Work in connection with the £l,OOO Government grant commenced on June _26 and was completed on September 17, 1930. The total expenditure was £999 8/2. The average number of men employed was-19. A total length of 31 miles of fascines have been erected which with the exception of a few chains at.the southern find of the. Domain, have, been used to heighten the existing artificial littoral dunes. The total area of bare sand" flatp and wander, ing inland dunes' surfaces planted has been 300 acres, made up as follows: (a) Sets planted 3ft. apart with 3ft. spacing between rows. Wandering dunes at native bush and opposite hillside, 60 acres; west of, Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's property 70 acres; sand flats at southern extremity 100 acres; sand flats facing river and north of Daffodil Bay 40 acres, (b) Sets planted 3ft. apart, rows 3ft. apart, three rows every chain, southern wilderness 30 acres. > ,

Much more work has been carried out than expected, from my .estimate, lhe use of the bridge saved treble handling of material. The number of>men saved build-, ‘ing platforms on which to lay the materials. The saving of costs in fascine erecting was used in further marram planting. Here again costs were reduced by using motor and horse and sledge to cart sets in sparcely planted areas thus saving cartage by hand. Furthermore, k contract was let whereby the men were carted by motor to and from their work at a cost to each man of 7/- per week. This saved the necessity of biking out from town and a consequent loss in travelling time. I am well pleased with the work carried out this year by the above Government Grant. In connection with U.S.A, relief work (marram' planting), the expenditure was £124. The marram planted on the southern wilderness of Domain was 70 acres. Die track to Daffodil Bay on which £3O was spent is approximately. four niile.s in length and except for several chains at the entrance requiring building up with gravel is quite passable. The above works which are the largest ever carried out on sand fixation at Sandy Point Domain will go a long way ; in the permanent stabilization of the domain, and it can be confidently expected that if stock and rabbits are excluded, future menace to the harbour by blowing sand will be greatly reduced and the vegetation of the domain as a whole greatly increased. Man’s interference with the surface covering of Sandy Point. Domain has proved a costly affair to authorities concerned in its web fare.