82

W. SULLIVAN.

a—l 4.

80 The Chairman.] Unless you happen to stick for a whole tide? Yes. 81. How often do you stick for a whole tide/ —It is not often, and it is only caused by tl)6 to* 1 ". 82. Mr. Mueller.] So when you stick over a tide you only see that part of the river where you stick / - -Yes. . ... 83 The Chairman.] Where you have stuck, have you seen any serious change m the river at l„ w tide are the banks gradually pinching in? -No. Any changes that have taken placeover a period of years are not serious for navigation purposes. 84. Mr. Mueller.] The dairy-farmers have a number of oil-launches, and they work the river at all stages of the tide/—Yes. 85. And they would have a very intimate knowledge ot ihe river at low tide/ US. SO. And if 'they stated they consider the sides are ],inching in, and that the deep-water channel is narrowing, you would not say they were telling falsehoods ?—No. ST. You think they ought to know? —Yes. 88. At what time did you get up to Te Puke Wharf to-day? -10.20 a.m. 89. What was the stat;- of the tide then/—lt would Ik- just on the ebb. 90. What was the state of the tide when you were al Netherton this morning/—lt was coming in. 91 You know fisher's landing? Yes. I was there this morning. 92 .lust 5 chains off fisher's landing did not your boat take the ground this morning/— Yes: but she would not have done so if I had Ik-cii there. I was at breakfast, and the mate does not know the channel very well. 93 How long was the boal stationary?- About ten minutes. 91. How long has ihe male been with you/ About nine months. lie had never been on the river before tha,. , • , , i 95. Mr. Mitchelson.] We were told that the river had shoaled m two place- one above ami another below Netherton—and that sometimes the steamer swept over to these banks/ —Yes, that would be at low tide. . iit'ir, Is that bank increasing, or is the water as it has been m the last twelve years. It is shallower, but very little. 1 know ihe place well. We stuck there years ago eighteen years ago. 97. We were also told about the bar outside the entrance: has lhat shoaled perceptibly in the last twelve years/ 1 have nol noticed it. !)S. Do you ever take soundings going out / No. 99. We'were also told the steamers sometimes scraped up the mud after getting across the bar? Yes. . 1,10 Is there am change in the bottom there/ lias lb- water decreased in depth there m the lasl ten or twelve years? 1 have not noticed it. Years ago I have seen the " Paeroa stuck there at low tide. . ... _. 101. The ■■Paeroa's" day was long before the operations had commenced at W aihl >.— Oh, no ! they had begun then. . , • , ■ i> ■ , 102. The Chairman.] Do you see any difference in tin nature ol this bar at Opani I mutts it harder in any way/- No. _ 103 Is the bottom any harder outside tin- Thames /— I here is no difference due to silting. Do you stir up the mud at all going across at low water /—Yes ; it is very thick. 105 Do you find any difference in that mud/ -No. 1110. It is of the same character as it used to be/—Yes. We take soundings with a pole, and you can press the pole down feet. 107 We were told that there is a crust on the top of the mud now, and they have to press the pole to go through it : that is not your experience?- No. The river is hard on the Thames side and sofl on the Piako side. 108 We are told it is possible for tic- sand or silt from the I haines to get washed up into the river in a north-west gale: what is your experience of that/ —It may be washed on to the flats, bul I do not think it would be washed into the river. 1(19. What does the Hat consist of?— Mud and simd. Ill) Soft mud:' Slushy mud on the surface, but not of greal depth. 111. Is there much animal life on it/--l have neve, noticed any. 1 suppose there are some 112 [g there much sea-grass growing on it?— Nothing of that kind. 113. Are there any pipis there now?—] believe so. I think I saw sonic Maoris lielow Kopu getting shellfish a little while ago. II I Have you ever done any poling in the river itself?— No. 11.-,. I),, you think you settle more. ... 1,-ss. i,, -,he bottom now / -I do not see any difference ill the bottom. ~,,-., a i i v 110 Mr Mi/as I You said thai sand accumulates on the banks m the floods.'—l es. 11 T And do you find any special conditions the banks with regard, for instance, to willows where this accumulates? No. It may be. but I would not notice the sand so plain where there 7lB° Do you Olid these accumulations are generally ill the neighbourhood of willows, or is that not your experience! - No. Where I notice it is in the clear spots. '119 You are speaking, of course, of the lower Waihou?—Yes. • 120 You have spoken of the shallow at the Junction near Mr. Kenny s place?— Yes. 12!'. Are you able to say whether twenty years ago there were shoals in that neighbourhood? Yes. it was always a shoaly place.