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D.—Ca

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at Waimarie Bend), Netherton ; R. B. Dunlop (owner of portion of Waihou West 1b) ; W. J. Thomas (settler on river-bank), Hikutaia ; R. Stock (farmer at Ngaliina on river-bank), Paeroa ; S. C. Weston (settler, western bank, Waihou), Paeroa ; W. H. Gavin, Inspecting Engineer, Public Works Department; G. T. Murray, District Engineer, Public Works Department; Captain Freeman, s.s. " Taniwha " ; P. R. Hubbard, settler, Paeroa ; D. C. Potts, agent Northern Steamship Company, Paeroa. A precis of the local and Public Works officials' evidence is attached (Appendix A). Mr. E. W. Porritt, solicitor, represented the Thames Valley Drainage Reference Board. Mr. T. A. Moresby, solicitor, represented the settlers living on the river-bank whose interests are affected by the river-works, and the Ohinemuri County Council. Mr. L. E. Cassrells, secretary of the Thames Valley Drainage Reference Board, attended the Commission. Mr. Jackson, of Waihi, attended the Commission, representing the Waihi Borough Council, but withdrew as soon as it became clear that the question of finance did not come within the Commission's order of reference. On the 9th and 14th October respectively the evidence of Messrs. C. R. Vickerman and William Ferguson, members of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Commission, 1910, was taken in Wellington, and is attached hereto (Appendices B and C). The representatives of the Thames Valley Drainage Reference Board asked to be supplied with the data on which the Public Works Department had computed the flood-discharges of 1910, in order that they might have the same reviewed by an engineer of their own selection to ascertain whether he agreed with the values computed by the Department. The Commission obtained the information from the Department and supplied it accordingly, but up to date no results of the outside engineer's investigations have been communicated to the Commission, although they have been asked for. Inspection of River and Works. —On the afternoon of the 30th September and the whole of the Ist October the Commissioners inspected — (a) The lower Waihou, between Ngaliina and Hikutaia, and adjacent lands; (b) the upper Waihou, from Tirohia to Ngahina, and the construction-works in progress ; (c) the Ohinemuri River, from Paeroa to Waihi, visiting the Public Works gauging-stations and investigating the physical characteristics of the river and its drainage area. Consideration of Problem. —On the 2nd October the Commission proceeded to Auckland, and there made preliminary investigations and calculations of flooddischarge from the data so far obtained. On the 29th October the Commission met in Wellington, and went exhaustively into the engineering problems involved, making estimates and designs of works to control floods of varying magnitude, valuations of the flood risk's, and study of the economics of the question of floodprevention. All available data bearing on the subject in the possession of the Public Works Department, secured as a result of work done under the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910, or from field observations, was obtained, existing plans inspected, proposed Public Works schemes analysed in regard to cost and design, and new plans illustrative of the Commission's findings and recommendations compiled. Previous Commission. —The Commissioners had before them the evidence given in 1910 before the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Commission, as well as the various departmental reports, &c, bearing on the subject of their Commission. flans and Data supplied by Public Works Department. —Plans and data were supplied by the Public Works Department, enabling the Commissioners to arrive at independent estimates of the maximum flood-discharge and the dischargingcapacity of the lower Waihou in its present condition, and also the improved discharging-capacity as the result of suggested improvements by dredging and stop-banking. The Commission regrets that its investigations were rendered difficult, and of less value than they might have been, by the absence of much data which should have been available. Your Commissioners wish to stress very forcibly the necessity

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