530 Proceedings. 
Sixrg Meeting. — 9th November, 1878. 
John Carruthers, M. Inst. C.E., Vice-president, in the Chair. 
Dr. W. L. Buller, C.M.G., was chosen to vote in the election of the Board of 
Governors for the ensuing year, in accordance with clause 7 of “ The New Zealand Insti- 
tute Act." 
The nomination for the election of honorary members of the New Zealand Institute 
was made in accordance with statute IV. 
1. “An Account of Improvements on Miramar Peninsula," by J. C. 
Crawford, F.G.S. 
ABSTRACT, 
The author stated that in 1840 the Peninsula was covered by a thick 
vegetation of fern, flax, toitoi, and shrubs, a few patches of bush being still 
on the ground. Burnham Water was then asheet of water about 200 acres 
in extent. 
In 1846 he decided to drain Burnham Water, and in 1847 accepted a 
tender to drive a tunnel through the ridge between Evans Bay and the 
Lagoon, since any drain made towards Lyall Bay would have been liable to 
be choked by blown sands during southerly weather. When the tunnel was 
completed drains were cut through the swamp. 
The land when drained was very sour at first, and the sandy parts 
required time to gather vegetation before further operations could be carried 
on to advantage; but as the drainage proceeded, grass-seed was sown, and 
a good sward has now been obtained in most places. He estimates the cost 
of drainage, from first to last, at £3,000. 
With regard to fixing the sands, the author states that he sowed seeds of 
Ammophila arundinacea and Elymus arenarius, and for several years believed 
the experiment to have been a failure; he, however, eventually found a 
few plants of Ammophila, and by continual planting succeeded in fixing a 
good deal of the sand. He states that the Elymus which he sowed was a 
failure, but that some plants subsequently procured were in some respects 
superior to the Ammophila for fixing blown sands. 
Mr. Martin Chapman said that no doubt the drainage would in time be of great use, 
but at present he had noticed that in dry weather there was a thick deposit of salt on the 
land 
: The Chairman remarked that several drainage schemes of a similar kind had been 
undertaken in New Zealand, but few had succeeded. He only hoped Mr. Crawford would 
be more fortunate. : 
Mr. Kirk considered that the information given regarding the fixing of the sand would 
be most useful. Mr. Crawford had paid partieular attention to the planting with a view 
to its spreading. If he could now sow wheat or some other plant between the grass a 
thick sward would in time form. He thought the salt deposit mentioned only occurred in 
that portion where the lake had been. He was of opinion that the work performed would 
be highly remunerative. 
