H.—s

2

2. Whether the said groynes cause the Waikato River to silt up at the outlet of the said drains in such a manner as to prevent the free egress of water carried by the said drains. 3. Whether the channel now groyned will have an adverse effect on navigation to mouth of Akaaka Stream, or will prejudice the construction of the Waikato-Manukau Canal. 4. Whether, if the said groynes have so caused the silting-up of the Waikato River as to prevent the free egress of water from the said drains, any substantial damage to the lands drained by the said drains has already been or is likely to be caused thereby. 5. Whether, in the event of substantial damage having already been, caused as aforesaid, or in the event of any such damage being likely to be caused by the existence of the said groynes, it will be possible in any way to remedy or prevent such damage at a reasonable cost without removing groynes ; and, if so, by what means could this be done. 6. Whether, in the event of its not being possible to remedy or prevent such damage without removing the said groynes, the removal of the said groynes would cause more material damage both to lands bordering the river and to navigation than the silting-up of the Waikato at the outlet of the said drains. 7. Whether legislation is necessary or desirable to enlarge or restrict the powers of either or both the Waikato River Board and the Akaaka Drainage Board in order to cope with any difficulties that have arisen through the separate existence and separate operations of those local bodies. And, further, I do require you to recommend by whom and in what proportions the costs of and incidental to the inquiry shall be borne. And with the like advice and consent I do further appoint you, the said Frederick William Furkert, to be Chairman of the said Commission ; and, further, I do require you to report to me your opinion as to the aforesaid matters within twenty-one days of the date hereof. And, lastly, it is hereby declared that these presents are issued under and subject to the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor-General and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies ; and issued under the Seal of the said Dominion, at Government House, at Wellington, this seventeenth day of September, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventeen. G. W. Russell, Approved in Council. Minister of Internal Affairs. J. F. Andrews, Clerk of the Executive Council. x