14

[A. WIGHT.

C—l 4.

41. When the first water came over your place after you had got into occupation ~l it, can you give us an\ idea as to how long it remained/ I should say, probably a day. 1-2. Was that prior to your drains being cut? -I cut the drains very shortly alter I went there The property was not flooded during the first few years I was there. f.-S Do you remember during that period any such fall of water taking [dace as fell on be occasion of this last II 1/—Usually it took about three days to make a flood. I believe this las. Hood was due to a heavy local fall of rain at Waihi : we had very little 44. When you had the first flood on your land, did any such heavy fall take place m such a short space of time?—lt usually took about three days' heavy ram. 45 Have you thought, yourself, of any remedial measures that might be suggested with r ard to improving the river other than stopping it being used as a s udgc-channel LI would be a simpler plan to catch the tailings and pump them away than to dredge then, atter- " 16. Then you have not looked at it from a point of view other than Stopping it as a sludgechannel? —No. 47. Have you considered the question of the willows/ >es. 48 Will you tell the Commissioners are those willows beneficial or otherwise to the navigability of the river?—Thev are no assistance to the keeping of the river open. , 10 Then, in your opinion, it would be advisable that they should be removed? ll depends. If they are taken away between Paeroa and the Junction, then it will let thousands of tons ol tailings away that will find a lodging-place further down. . . 50. Then, you consider that the tailings already on the banks and in the bed ol the i ivci should be removed ?—Yes— do the whole thing at once. 51 Then, the willows should be removed?— Yes. .Vi Have you gone up the Waihou I—As far as the flax-mills—about two or three miles. 53. In your opinion, are the willows ihere and for that distance a great obstruction to the current of the water? —Yes, they are. . 54 Have you sufficient knowledge, or did you make observations as to the difference between what we have (',,110.1 the coarse tailings, as they appear on the river-bank here, and the slimes. Personally, I have had nothing to do with them. . 55 Are you sufficiently acquainted with the subject to tell the Commissioners whether the tailings opposite your place are the coarse tailings or the slimes?-! should say there was about three-quarters coarse tailings and one-quarter fine. 56. Did you make any examination to .see to what depth the line tailings or slimes went!— *°" 57 Mr Tunics.] You say that you think the bottom of the river has become shallower: can you say in what way?—The bottom is hard, so that a beast can walk over. 58. Was this land of yours very wet?-Yes; about half of it was swamp 59. Of course, since you have drained the land there has been a consolidation ot it. it has like five little streams „,, your property: is that so?They were not streams; they were low gutters. ' til Is there any water there now? —No. 02. If there had been no flood in the river at all. they would back up now, would they not I " Te S" 3 Mr. Clendon.] You have had a good deal of experience of land in the Piako district, I understand. Is it not a fact that there is a white scum over the whole vegetation in the 1 lako district?—] should not think so. , , M , 64 Have you seen the land after a flood, and have you seen the white scum there?-No, I cannot say I have. 05 Have you noticed it in any other locality f—JNo. ~ •■ • , 11. A,,, we to understand that your land is only fi led by the water that goes up the drains? The whole lot is flooded, drains and all, sometimes. 07 Tf you erected three or four H 1-gates. would ~ no, keep the water off your property/ " N °6B. What area of land is affected by the deposit of white slimy matter?-] should say up to oo When was this!— This last flood, and the one before, ??; What did you pay for your land in ISO:', or when you bought lt?-l do not think that is a fair question. 71 What was it worth, say. in 1805?— About £6 per acre 72' What is its present market value?— Twenty-five pounds per acre. W Is H not a fact that land in the immediate locality of that was sold at £4 10s. pel aoK have already had the wells located m, my place. flood?—Thev 75. The Chairman.] Did the cattle refuse to drink out ol the nvei in turns n have to drink out of the river. 76 Are they dairy cattle?— No. T fatten cattle. _ They would bo Netherton, and they have walked back there.