D.—6

1920. NEW Z E ALAND.

MAEREWHENUA RIVER (REPORT OF RIVERS COMMISSION ON).

Presented to both Houses of the. General Assembly by Command of His Mxcel.l,en.cy.

REPORT. To Tlis Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight of Grace of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, GovernorGeneral and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— Your Commission, dated the Bth April, 1919, directed us to inquire into certain matters in respect of the Clutha, Orari, Rangitata, Waimakariri, Ashley, and Maerewhenua Rivers. The time within which we were required to furnish our report was extended by Warrant under the hand of Your Excellency, dated 3rd November, 1919, to 7th February, 1920. The present report deals only with the Maerewhenua. River ; the reports upon the remaining rivers will be presented to Your Excellency in due course when the requisite data have been collected. Your Excellency's Commission directed us, in respect of each river,— "(1.) To inquire into the cause or causes of the silting-up of the channel, the flooding of the adjacent lands by the said river, the erosion of its banks, and the damage to the surrounding country ; " (2.) To ascertain the nature and extent of the damage done to the lands adjacent to the said river, and what area of land is affected by such floods or erosion, or both, and whether it is practicable at reasonable expense to prevent such flooding or erosion, or both, either wholly or partially ; " (3.) To ascertain the best method of providing for the control of the said river and its tributaries so as to safeguard the lands affected, and to provide for the effective control and improvement of the said river and its banks ; " (4.) To ascertain the nature and extent of any drainage-works that may be required, and the best method of carrying out such works ; " (5.) (a.) To furnish estimates of the cost of such remedial measures as you may recommend should be taken for the effective control and improvement of the said river and its banks ; " (b.) To report what area or areas of land should be constituted a district in respect of which a rate may be levied to secure and pay the interest on and provide a fund for the repayment of any loan that may be raised to carry out any river-improve-ment works which you may recommend should be undertaken ;