530 Proceedings. 



Sixth Meeting, 9th November, 1878. 

 John CaiTuthers, M. Inst. C.E., Vice-president, in the Chair. 

 Dr. W. L. Buller, C.M.G., was chosen to Yote in the election of the Board of 

 Governors for the ensuing year, iu 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 stiU 

 on the ground. Burnham Water was then a sheet of water about 200 acres 

 in extent. 



In 1846 he decided to drain Burnham Water, and in 1847 accepted a 

 tender to diive a tunnel through the ridge between Evans Bay and the 

 Lagoon, since any drain made towards Lyall Bay would have been hable 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 

 Ammojohila arundinacea and Elymus arenarius, and for several years believed 

 the experiment to have been a failure; he, however, eventually found a 

 few plants of Ammopliila, 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 Ammopliila 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 iu dry weather there was a thick deposit of salt on the 

 land. 



Q'he 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 particular 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 beeili He was of opinion that the work performed would 

 be highly remunerative. 



