6

[G. BtJOHANAK.

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84 Mr. Tunks. j We shall be able to produce direct evidence on that point. (To witness) Have you ever gone into the question of what these deposits in the river are- tailings, river-Silt, or what 'it is?—We have taken samples of the tailings, which are now in the hands of Mr. Pond. (rovernment Analyst. The, Chairman: Is Mr. Pond to be called b\ you. Mr. Muellei I Mr Mueller: No; but we expect to get his report at any moment. 85 Mr Tunks (to witness). | Where were the tailings taken from/ Some were taken Iron, below the Junction. We have taken some off our own property, the Chinamen s gardens, and some on, of the houses in the Town of Paeroa. 86. Does your analysis show that there is other mailer besides the tailings on the laml. Mr. Pond has to make the analysis. . 87 You really do not know whether what has come down is all tailings, or river-oVor,s am that kind of thing?— Some Of the deposits on the river-bank I think any amateur or professional would take as tailings. Ido not think that anybody could mistake the fact thai they are tailings. They are lime for Hie Commissioners to look at. 88. What parts are you referring to?—The whole of the bank from Mackaytown down past Netherton. and on the adjoining land also. . 89 You are speaking generally, and without any speed knowledge on thai point/ Except that I have seen tailings. I have seen them come from the mines, and 1 recognize these as being the same There is river-sand in the Waihou. which is quite different from these tailings. MO Have you investigated lo see to what extent these banks of silt you refer to on the Waihou what depth they are? Vie I hey not simply a. covering, a sort ol blanket on the laml. No; in the Waihou. a quarter of a mile up. there is quite a bank of ladings. 111. What do you mean—does it extend right out into the river/ From the bank, slanting into the river. . , • 92. Where was the old bank; can you give us any idea ! I should say it is encroaching about 8 ft. or 10 ft. It is a bank on the south side. 93. You mean to say that the Waihou at that ~011,1 is reduced in width by 8 ft. 0, 10 ft. 1 It is a shelving bank running into the river. 94 Has that affected Hie l>ed of the river al all I I did not tesi it there. 9o' Is not that probably merely a result of the willow trees reducing the speed of the current. and allowing the stuff .0 settle? I think not. The Waihou is a fas, river, and ,1 you go four miles up you will find no I races of tailings, and the willows are no, taking roo as they are in the Ohinemuri. If it were an ordinary stoppage caused by willows, they would take root--96. Do you mean to say that the willows are no, taking root in the Waihou?—About toni 97 P HOW long is it since you were las, there/ I was up in a steamer about last October. Is. Th,,,. h"s been a considerable change since then. Do you not think that the willows have ;,uy f;:;i;;;^:- h z::t\ ,-,,- „, purs,,,. ** lV r*~. n» h* ...i.., for ,„, to do i to ask ,l,e Commission to go up and see this spot for themselves We are a Commission of inquire to look into these matters. If this were an expert witness 1 would not in any way prevent you testing his knowledge, but this is not an expert witness. We are quite ,n a position !„ judge for ourselves. If you ask us ,0 go and see ,l„s place we will go and see ~. 99 Mr Tunis (to witness).] You referred .0 Ihe flood of nine years ago. How did that „ , affect the land that you referred ,0 as building-sites? I- left a deposit ot tailings in a small low place, about 4 in. deep, covering the grass. 100 Did no, that indicate that the land was unsuitable for building purposes/ I he peopl. liviu ' he, ' eemed quite satisfied. Only an occasional H I occurred once in nine years. As !; llieVople would no, look at'the property for building-sites. I. was only the lowest portion of 1 he country that was covered at that tune. Hoods in 101. The Chairman.] lias the County Council or anybody else kept a record of the Hoods in i "'" I canno, say, except a record has been kept by the County Engineer. Then years , aye had a vast increase - - - '" -— of the in °Toi make any approximate atever? « k the popu.ation of Waihi. zss ~c„. ..i,, r ,. IT . »■„„■.'.- 1 — .„„.,,,. Le eightS. ywm :«" Id -hi- « Dtl 1 d»dd Hunk than .™M te. 107 Much more? —Not a great deal. ns T think there are about 10.000 in the district now.' There max be. loo; During Se gri portion of that time g Is have been car, led up the , iver by steamer *v" al st . daily or a tri-weeklj service/ A r™**^*^ 11 | Thai has been going on for the last fifteen years? ( lose on that, I should sa 3 112. That was not so when you first canie here f-No ~,.,„....., fil . st broUK ht the g Is