Field. — On the Shifting of Sand-dunes. 565 



and sundry cottages stand. Farther north there used to be 

 two tracks leading to the mouth of the Kai Iwi Stream. I 

 used generally to travel by the inland one, as the other, though 

 shorter, passed for considerable distances over drift-sand. I 

 used, however, occasionally to go that way, and always found 

 a difficulty in following it, owing to the changes that occurred 

 in the position and form of the sandhills. About ten years 

 ago, I tried in vain to trace the old route, which had ceased 

 to be used, through the enclosing of the land. I found that 

 several lagoons, by the position of which I had thought to fix 

 the line of the track with approximate accuracy, had been 

 entirely filled by the sand, so that their sites could not be 

 identified. 



I have mentioned the manner in which the Otaki Eiverran 

 parallel to the beach when I first saw it, and afterwards 

 straightened its course. The Wanganui has a similar bend to 

 the northward as it approaches the sea ; and since 1851 the 

 actual mouth of the river has shifted several hundred yards 

 farther north, what is known as the South Spit becoming 

 lengthened in proportion. Two or three times the river has 

 actually broken over the spit when the drifting of the sand 

 has formed low places ; and our Harbour Board have foolishly 

 spent thousands of pounds in raising these places — in resisting 

 the efforts of nature to improve the navigation of the river, 

 instead of being thankful for such assistance. 



Between 1852 and 1856 I very frequently travelled up and 

 down the coast between Wanganui and Waitotara, and, as the 

 track at the Waitotara end passed for more than five miles 

 across and among sandhills, I acquired a very accurate know- 

 ledge of the locality. As a rule, the changes were so gradual 

 as hardly to attract notice, though occasionally, after a heavy 

 gale, some of the sandhills would perceptibly shift their 

 position, the alteration being marked by the fact that the 

 forward end of the hill assumed a steep slope, which after- 

 wards eased off under the influence of lighter winds from other 

 quarters, and of the traffic along the route, which was very 

 considerable. 



I did not visit the locality again till I went out, a few days 

 after the fight at Nukumaru, to point out to General Cameron 

 a route by which cannon and carts could easily be taken from 

 the Nukumaru camp to a point near the mouth of the Wai- 

 totara where it was easily fordable at low tide. On this occa- 

 sion I was quite surprised at the changes that had taken 

 place. Old landmarks by which I had been accustomed to 

 steer my course had disappeared, and nice grass flats and 

 Maori cultivations had, been buried by the sand. I have 

 visited the same locality on several occasions since then, and 

 each time I have observed further changes. The tramplin" of 



