C—l 4.

94

[.). M. MILAKEN.

44. River-sand? —Yes. 45. 1 think it is red in colour? —Light chocolate in colour. 46. Is there a good deal of drainage from the Hikutaia district to the eastward of this bank I —Yes. 47. Would that play any part in the raising of this bank/ No; the bank was there before the drains were made. 48. But not to the same extent / No. 49. Can you say that ihe drainage from Maratoto has not played a part in filling up this bank? —Everything tends in that direction. 50. Would not the tailings from the Thames foreshore in a north-westerly gale help to increase the height of that bank? —I do not think so. It would not blow failings up. 51. Well, sand and silt? —No. 52. We have expert evidence that Thames sand and silt have been found in the vicinity of this bank: what do you say (o this statement?—The statement cannot lie. Not Thames tailings: they cannot travel uphill. Ihere may lie tailings, but not Thames tailings. 53. Did you take these samples yourself? —Yes. Mr. Baker had nothing to do with it. 54. Mr. Tunks.] You said you have read a copy of Mr. Metcalf's report that was published? —Yes. 55. You see he says there that the presence of willows had a great deal to do with catching the silt: do you agree with him in that? —Yes. 56. Mr. Moresby.] Have you seen that portion of the Ohinemuri River just below the bridge behind the present Criterion Hotel lately?— About a year ago. 57. Was it high and dry then, as it i.s now / -Yes : there was no flood on. Anous MoKinnon examined. (No. 47.) 1. Mr. MeVeagh,] You have been fishing in and about the Thames for the last six years?— Yes. 2. Have you an oil-launch (—1 have been fishing in an oil-launch, and in a sailing-boat before that. 3. Do you fish in the Thames River? —Yes. 4. I think you have a season for fishing?— Yes, in the summer months continuously. 5. Not during the wintei ?—No. 6. Why? —There is too much fresh water in the river, and the fish do not go there. 7. How far up do you fish that river/ —As far as Mr. Whitehouse's—that is, above Turua. 8. Have you noticed any decrease in the number of fish to be got in that river?— Not since I have been fishing. In fad, last season was better than the two or three seasons previously. 9. Has there been any falling-off in your earnings?—l was not fishing last summer. 1 have a brother-in-law fishing, "and he told me he had done better last season than for two or three seasons. 10. Is the quality of the lish good, too? —Yes. 11. We have been told that dead lish have been seen floating down the river sometimes: 1 think you can explain how that arises/— It is very simple. In the first of the season we never get them at all. Later on, when we get them, the lish do not look as though they had been starved or killed, because they are all healthy-looking fish when we get them. 12. I think you know how it happens that you see so many?—l suppose I have killed a good lew in the nets one time and another. Fishermen who lish all day and night towards the end of the week may oversleep and miss the turn of the tide, and then all the fish that are in the nets are gone and they are dead. 13. 1 think you know some people who fish like that/—Yes, I know two or three people at Turua who leave their nets down from one week to another and never go near them except once or 1 w ice a week. . . , 14. Why do they leave them so long /--Because they cannot sell all the fish they catch. Another reason is that they have only got a little dinghy, and they cannot always get to the nets. 15 Can you tell us anything about the character of the bottom of the channel?—l have not noticed any difference since'l have been fishing. There was always a hard crust underneath, and about from 6 ft. to 8 ft. of soft mud on top. 16. Have you any notion of what the fishermen average per week here?—l cannot give you any idea. 1 only know what 1 made myself. 17. What cfid you make yourself ?—While 1 was at it it was a very poor week m the summer months when 1 did "not make £5, and even very much more. 18 I think you made a big catch in the last summer you were fishing in the ihames Kiver/--Yes, 1 made two'or three. We have had £8 and £9 on several occasions. I believe the last week 1 had£9. 19. Was that £9 for one or two men /—One, myselt. 20. Mr. Bruce.] You have no fishing-boat of your own ?—No. 21. And never had?— No. 22 You have been about six years at the fishing?— Yes. _ .... 23. Constantly? No. 1 generally lish in the summer-time and go into the bush m the winter. I have fished one or two years all through. '4 You h-iv never noticed any appreciable difference in the bottom ot the foreshore during the last six years you have been fishing?— Not the slightest difference. I pay rent for a boat, but I have mv own nets. ~.„«, * 25 How many hands besides yourself in that boat?— Only two of us. 20' You distinctly say you see no appreciable difference in the bottom ot the harbour /—Not the slightest.