66

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40. Mr. t'lendon.] Was not the effect of the 1907 flood to materially alter the bed of the stream in many places? —I could not say. 41. Are you not aware that settlers at Hikutaia suffered as a result of the flood of 1907 just the same as the settlers up hero did J —Not that I am aware of. 42. The Chairman.] Where do the settlers get the sand from now to do concrete and other work I—They1—They generally go down to the bank at Cryer's Landing. 43. Do they get any from any place above that?— Yes; there is another place about half a mile above that. I have seen scows loading there.

Paehoa, Friday, 27th Mat, 1910. Thomas Nepean Edward Kenny recalled. (No. 31.) 1. Mr. Mueller.] You wish to make a statement concerning an old photo, you have found?— Yes. I believe that in my evidence before the Mines Committee 1 stated that the island at the junction of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers commenced to form somewhere about 1884. Last night I found an old photo, taken by myself, not before 1888 and not after 1889, which shows that at that time there was no trace of the island there. The matter I referred to in the Mines Committee's report, questions No. 1, on page 21, and No. 29, on page 23. 2. This old photo, was taken by yourself? —Yes. [Exhibit No. 18.J 3. Can you show the exact position on the map where this old photo, was taken from, and what it is supposed to represent?—lt was taken in the Upper Waihou, above the junction of the two rivers. The low point is the point between the Ohinemuri and Waihou Rivers. 4. Was the island that is marked on the present maps at all in existence when that photo. was taken ? —No. 5. So that at the time that photo, was taken there was absolutely nothing where that island is marked ? —Absolutely nothing. 6. Here is another old photo, you have found that was taken by yourself?— Yes. [Exhibit No. 18.] 7. What does this represent?—The steamer " lluby " lying at the Wharf Street Wharf, at Crosby's Hotel corner. 8. Do you know the date at which that was taken?—No, I cannot remember. 9. The Chairman.] What were you standing on when you took the photo.? —On a sandbank just above the island —a place where people went picnicking. 10. Was there any water behind you?—No ; the sandbank was on the bank itself. 11. Can you draw a line on the plan showing the centre-line of that photo.? —Yes. [Witness did so.] 12. Mr. MeVeagh.] You remember I asked you about the big flood in 1898?— Yes. 13. I have here a printed newspaper-extract taken from the New Zealand Herald of the 24th June, 1898. It states, speaking of the Ohinemuri River, " The river now rose very rapidly, and the noise of the angry torrent could be heard a long distance off. Soon the old wharf and the Railway Wharf were covered, and the river broke its banks at the Esplanade and near Mr. Forrest's timber-yard, so that the town was completely flooded. Belmont Road, from the Royal Mail Hotel to the railway-station, and thence on to the Puke, was nothing but a vast sheet of water, its depth, as it rushed down each street, being from 12 in. up to about 3 ft. or 4 ft., that being the depth of water near the railway-station." Is that a correct account of that flood?—I cannot say 14. Have you any recollection of the place being flooded to such a depth?— There have been frequent floods'on the Belmont Road—any number of them. 15. It is stated to be from the Royal Mail Hotel to the railway-station ?—Yes, and often water comes up there from the Wharf Street drain. 16 This water came across at the properties of Messrs. Porritt, Coote, and Cochrane, because this extract proceeds, " In the afternoon matters took a very serious turn for the upper township populace, as the river, which was then carrying a full complement of water, was backed up by the tide, and, as a consequence, overflowed its banks in several places. The first point where the water broke away was near the fine premises of Messrs. Porritt, Coote, and Cochrane, and in a very short time the newly laid-ofi grounds of Messrs. Coote and Porritt were entirely under water—in fact, boats were taken right across the main road." Do you recall that?—No : that happens in every flood. In almost every moderate Hood you find 2 ft. or 3 ft. of water near where Mr. Porritt lives at Buchanan's Bridge. You will also find the lower town flooded when Paeroa is not. . 17 Has that not been always so during your recollections?— From hearsay. I have never crossed over in a flood. But that was a big flood, and Ido not recollect whether I was up or not. It came very rapidly, and rose very rapidly in the Waitekaun. 18 It further states, "Fences were washed away by the flood, and nice gardens destroyed. and looking over Paeroa from the firebell-tower and Primrose Hill, scenes of greal devastation were to be witnessed everywhere "?-You can see that in almost every flood now. and I should not be a bit surprised if it was so then. 19 The report states, "The families of Messrs. Saunders. Knowles, and Bush had to n, removed by means of a boat, and when it is stated that when Mr. Saunders's wife and family were being rescued from the house the boat passed over the top rail of the fence, some idea may be fathered of the depth of water in that neighbourhood?-That ,s straight across the river, adjacent to Mr Niccol's property, and that has always been subject to floods. Several people have had to