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29. The Chairman,.] The silt killed everything?— Yes. 30. Mr. Mueller.] Do you know the old Maori steps in the river/—Yes. 31. What were those steps erected for/ -I',,r the Maoris io get down at low water and get water for cooking purposes. 1 should say that about Oft. has tilled up from low water mark. 32. Dow far does that extend into the river / —About 25 ft. At the steps there is about 6 ft., and that slopes down to nothing. That would be about 25ft. at low water —25 ft. from the steps. 33. The Chairman.] Is that deposit sandy, or slimy, or muddy?—lt is set too solid to be muddy; you have to dig at it with a shovel. 34. It is not sand? —No. 35. Mr. Mueller.] Do you own a launch on the river /—Yes. 36. You take your milk to the creamery every morning? —Yes. 37. How long have you been navigating the river with the launch/ About eight or nine months. 38. What does your launch draw /—A little more than 2 ft. if loaded. 39. Have you any difficulty in getting about the river at low tide?—At very low tide it takes one man to steer and another man to feel his way with a pole. 10. Have you ever done the feeling part with the pole?— Yes. 41. What sort of a bottom has the river?—ln the very deep places it is hard, but when you get out of that it is softer—you can sink into it. 42. Have you had any experience of the navigation of the river previous to the eight months you have had this launch/—Nothing in particular. I have been aground with a flat-bottomed boat with a load in it, and have had to get out and push it along. 43. During the whole of the five years have you been taking milk to the creamery?—Y'es. 44. Can you say whether the channel during the live years has narrowed or not?—l could not say. 45. Mr. Tunks.] How long have you been in the district?— Eight years 4(i. You were here at the time of the January flood?— Yes. 47. Was that the first time you had seen a flood in the district ?—Yes. 48. You say that the bottom of the river has hardened in places: have you an) idea what ihe bottom is composed of? —It is hard in the deep water. It has been hard ever since 1 had the launch. 49. Do you know what it is composed of? —No. 50. Mr. MeVeagh.] When did you take up your property? —About five years ago. 51. Have you drained it? —Fairly well 52. What length of drains have you got? —About 50 chains. 53. How high is it above the Waihou bank from low-water mark?—lt might be 11 ft. 54. What is the difference in the rise and fall of the tides/—ln the middle of summer, in the big spring tides, there is a rise and fall of about 8 ft., and in the case of the small tides about 3 ft. less than that. Farmers considered it the best summer they had seen, because they were always getting a shower when they wanted it. That was until the flood. 55. Have you any idea of the rainfall for December?— Not the slightest idea. 50. You say you noticed this deposit on your vegetation : may that not have been ordinal} alluvium?—l do not think so. 57. What is the difference between the ordinary flood alluvium and that deposit that is on your place? —The ordinary flood alluvium is soli. 58. When did you have experience of the ordinary flood alluvium /—Not on my place at all. 59. Where did you have any experience of the ordinary flood alluvium?— In different places at the Thames, but not farming. At Tararu. 00. Was Tararu under water / —The creek-banks. 1 lived about a mile and a half up from the creek-mouth. 61. Did you go and feel that alluvium? —1 ran about in it with my bare feet. 62. You can detect the difference between the feeling of soft alluvium with your feet and the substance up here, feeling it with your hands? —Yes, to my way of thinking. Malcolm Morrison examined. (No. 22.) 1. Mr. Mueller.] Your name is Malcolm Morrison, and you own land at Netherton?—Yes, 149 acres, part of Komata North No. 1. My east boundary adjoins Mr. Thomas's place. 1 have a water frontage on the western front. My place is portion of lal, Lot 2. 2. You are below the creamery?— Yes. 3. Is your land affected by Hoods/—Not to any great extent. This last flood came over the bank. It went off in a day or two. I. Did the last flood do any damage to your grass/ Yes, to a certain extent. 5~ Have you known tha, land for a considerable Dumber of years? Yes, I have been on it since I was ten years old. (i. Have you known it to flood previous to two or three years ago? Not lo the extent it is now doing. 7. You know your father's land? —Yes. 8. And you have heard what he said as to the navigation of the river? —Yes. 9. Can you corroborate what he has said in regard to the land and the navigation ?—Most decidedly. 10. '.Mr. Clendon.] You know the land in the Wharepoua district?—l have heard about it. I I. Are you aware that some of the farms in the Wharepoua district were under water for at least two weeks as a result of the ,907 Hood?— No.