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F. OCCK

53. After that, what happened? —Of course, there was opposition. After the opposition knocked off, larger boats, the ■•Waimarie " and " Taniwha." were put on. The Junction became the wharf then. 54. And the Junction remained the head of the navigation for some years/ —Yes. 55. They are still trading?— Yes. ."ifi. How does the draught of the " Waimarie " and " Taniwha " compare with the " Paeroa " and " Ohinemuri "? —They could not come up under 7 ft. or 8 ft. 57. What was the reason the Northern Steamship Company ceased to run their boats to one wharf, and ran them to the Junction Wharf?— Because they could not get up. 58. What was the reason of their leaving the Junction Wharf and coming up only as far as Te Puke?— Because they could not get up to the Junction. 59. When the steamers ran to the Junction Wharf, can you give us any idea of the depth of the water at the Junction Wharf?— When they first ran there I suppose it was about 10ft. 60. You have seen steamers stirring up the mud and silt? —Yes. they do that always when they are late on the tide. 61. Can those steamers get up to the Junction Wharf?— Not nearly. 62. What would be the result if the steamers ceased to run to the Te Puke Wharf? What effect would it have on the navigation?—l expect all the channel would be filled up. If they did not keep the channel open, in a few days they could not get up at all. That is my impression, and that is the opinion of the captains too. 63. I suppose you are rated on your land that is destroyed? —Yes. 64. The Chairman.] How much "a year do you pay?— About £12, I think. 65. You know the land of Mr. Barrett ?—Yes : his land adjoins mine. 66. He has 39f acres?— Yes. ...... 67. Can you say how much of that land is affected by the silt?—l should say about half of it ahout 20 acres. 1 think the whole of the 20 acres has been rendered useless. 08. Can you state the loss he has suffered through the last flood ?—I expect he suffered m about the same proportion as myself. til). Can you state the depth of the deposit on his land?— From 12ft. to loft, near the river, and it goes back to a much lower depth. 70. What was his land used for?— Pastoral purposes. There is one small portion in crop. The land has been destroyed. ~,_,. . . 71 Is there anything else you would like to put before the Commission ?—The best evidence is for the Commission to go and see the land, and you will find whether I am exaggerating or not. I intend to ask the Commission to visit the land. It is very handy. It is one of the very good examples of silt-deposit. It is close to the town. The Chairman: We shall see not only the picked properties, but also those that have not been 72. Mr, Tunks.] How long ago was there a bridge built below your place?— About thirty ' WM 's_',g'was building of the bridge that stopped the navigation going up to your place?—No; because we have got barges up through the bridge. 74 Could steamers go up to your place after the bridge was built?—l do not think so. 75. As a matter of fad. the building of the bridge did to a large extent stop navigation up to your place?— Not at all. . , 76. The Chairman.] What did you bring up or down m the barges?— Firewood was brought up from the old mill in barges. 77. You did not take any produce down? —No. 78 Mr Tunks.] Why not?— There was never any to take. 79. It was the tailings prevented you using the water above the bridge thirty years ago .'- -'' 80. Would not the stopping of the navigation of itself cause the river to silt up?-There was not sufficient of it to keep the river open. _ . . 81 When did you first begin to find the river silting up or building up?— Some time artel the mines began to work. Before they began to work we had a clear crystal stream 82. When did you las take a barge up as far as your place?-About four years ago. We *'* ':4 U Fou e r yeU' ago" iltas as good as ever for that purpose?-No: we got up on the top of ,1 "' has been built about sixteen years, 1 bhink?-Yes, I dare say 85. Would not that have the effect of bringing the navigation still further down the rive, I SV 86 It had no effect at all on the navigation ?-As far as the steamers were concerned it had. Rl riri.' propellers help to keep the river open ?-Of course they th, 88 These bridges that have been built from time to time had the effect of pushing the steameis furZ"dSTthe rfVerK do not know that they had that effect, because they can go through the brid Bfl' Was it only the silting-up of the river that caused the company to move from the Junction to Te Pukl Do you not save'a considerable amount of time on the t de?-You -»"£»**»£ 90. Can you not save about an hour on the tide by coming to Te Puke instead that one of the reasons that influenced the company,to-m*.,4. £ange^-N^l do not, think it was. If they could have come up they would have done so. 1 accommodating people.