Pontoon To Go

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 584, 9 February 1929, Page 1

Pontoon To Go

PT. CHEVALIER ‘PERSECUTION’

Fate of Dixieland Baths

THE big pontoon lias to be removed from Pt. Chevalier because it is said to be “spoiling the beach.” “Preposterous,” says a civil engineer to this accusation, and Dr. P. J. Rayner, of Dixieland, Ltd., alleges that it is yet another piece of persecution. Dixieland baths still await the pleasure of the new Minister of Marine. Steel to the value of £3,000 has been purchased for the structure under a. promise given by the late Government.

A T half-tide yesterday tile beach showed little evidence of spoliation to a Sun man. A sand spit ran out to the pontoon, which now rests on the bottom, and there seemed to be considerable building up of sand opposite the cabaret." About 100 yards along there was an area of uncovered rock with a small space of old tree roots and mud. Most of the roots were small and quite soft, and they would be of no danger to bathers whatever. Two big stumps were found, but one was removed with a wrench of the hand. An hour’s spade work would remove all trace of the trees. Further along from Dixieland frontage alterations are being made to a building and concrete pillars are being put in the sand, taking in a strip of sand about 15ft wide. At spring tide it will be impossible to walk —without bathing dress—past that building. DEPRIVING BATHERS “Are you going to remove the pontoon?” was thq question put to Dr. F. J. Rayner, of Dixieland, Ltd., today. “Yes,” he said. “We are removing it on Tuesday to a position allocated by the harbourmaster, and in so doing we are depriving our bathers of a great deal of pleasure, as it was being extensively used for sun bathing and diving. I am greatly surprised to read the Mayor’s remarks about the supposed damage the pontoon was bringing about on the beach, and especially as 1 learned that the Mayor had exhibited to the Minister a photograph of a hole four feet deep, contaiuing stumps and other rubbish. Unfortunately the tide was full when the Minister went out to the beach, and there was nothing to see.” “X was away holiday-making at the time, but on my return I immediately inspected the beach, as I have made a study of it for the ’past four years, with a view to erecting a swimming pool there. I must confess that I fail to see where the beach has been ruined, nor could I locate the hole shown in the photograph. It will be very interesting to the public if the Mayor will publish the photograph and state where it was taken, and then allow the general public to judge its correctness. I have received letters from swimmers and others who know the beach, stating that the beach is in better condition now than they have ever known it before.” MORE SAND “Further, 1 maintain that the beach contains more sand on its whole length and is improved in every respect except for some 50ft. of exposed papa rock and a space of about 10ft. square containing some roots exposed above the mud, hut this is 100 yards from the pontoon. The condition today ought to be the same as when the complaint was made, and the photograph taken as the pontoon is in exactly the same position, and I therefore leave it to the public to say which is correct, the Mayor's statement or mine. “I am inclined to the belief that it is the old policy of persecution, long adapted by the City Council against the company, as no opportunity has ever been overlooked. But this is one occasion where the truth is exposed on the beach for anyone sufficiently interested in justice to see.” Dr. Rayner concluded by expressing surprise that the Mayor, who had always been a strong advocate for baths at Point Chevalier, should oppose the scheme. “Had the City Council not acted the dog-in-the-manger in restraining us from buiiding on the rocky portion oh the beach, opposite

tlieir property, the public would now have been enjoying the benefits of the baths,” he said. ‘•‘However, we are now awaiting tlie pleasure of the new Minister, who is quite capable of judging the position, and requesting the construction of the baths in front of our own property. The late Ministry agreed to grant this permit, and with that in view the company purchased £3,000 . worth of steel, and it therefore expects that the promise will be carried out.” “CONSIDERABLY IMPROVED”

Mr. W. F. McCallum said he had examined the beach w T hen the bath proposal was first afoot and he was familiar with its former condition. Yesterday he found it considerably improved, there being an increase in sand along the whole length. He was satisfied that the sand had accrued from further down the beach and by the set from the north. “The statement that the beach has been ruined by the pontoon is hard to understand,” he said. “Part of the beach at present shows an area of about 10ft-by 60ft of strata rock and old root formation, but this is liable to happen to any beach through the changes of weather. I have no hesitation in saying, that it would have happened if the pontoon had not been there. The pontoon has certainly caused a change by bringing more sand up on the beach and I am satisfied that if it were left there long enough, it would gradually distribute sand along the whole length of the beach and continue to improve it.” Mr. McCallum says -that he had a similar experience with a sunken ship on one of his own beaches, there being a big accumulation of sand. He has had 25 years’ experience with beaches in his business. Mr. F. W. Grigg, late chairman of the Waitemata County Council, and hon. inspector of harbour beaches, said that he had no hesitation in saying that the beach is at least 50 per cent, improved since the pontoon was placed in position. SAND MOVEMENTS “There are changes now in the beach and it has been improved, especially in the neighbourhood of the pontoon,” said Mr. F. E. Powell, C.E., M.N.Z.SiC.E., who Inspected the beach a year ago when the bath scheme was afoot. “Although it seems that some denundation has taken place, this cannot be attributed to the pontoon. There is accretion of sand round the pontoon and.as this is at the harbour end. I can only suppose that the pontoon has arrested the movement of the sand and there has been advantage. “It must be realised that sand movements are local and subject to temporary conditions. It seems preposterous for anyone to state that the beach has been ruined by the presence of the pontoon, I would say that the beach is at least as good as when I saw it 12 months ago and even a great deal better.”

Mr. Robert Moore, civil engineer, said that he had known the beach for three years. In the first two years the accumulation of sand had been inconsiderable, but since the placing of the pontoon there, 12 months ago, the sand had been washed up there in very considerable quantities. He could see no damage in any shape or form, except for a space about 100yds to the south of the pontoon. This had been denuded of sand by the prevailing wind which had ! been constantly blowing from the soutli-west in the last 12 months. Stumps of small trees anu a few roots were exposed. This area was j alternatively covered up and exposed, due to the travelling of the sand. In the last 12 months the sand of the beach had been extended seaward by j 40ft, giving a total spread of 100 ft now. •