17

D.—6b

(3.) To submit the proposals to the ratepayers and obtain their authority by poll to raise the necessary loan. (4.) To carry out the necessary work, either by contract or direct labour, in as expeditious a manner as possible. (5.) To maintain the works efficiently, and to do whatever extra work may be necessary to improve the regimen of the river and secure the fullest protection for their district from floods. ((>.) To take all necessary observations and keep records that will assist in the study of the hydrology of the river, changes in its regimen, heights and duration of floods, &c. The Trust should have all the powers of a local body, and, further, should have absolute jurisdiction, over the channel and banks of the river, inasmuch as proposals for all drains emptying into the river, all locks, tide - gates, bridges, ferries, wharves, &c, shall be submitted to and approved by the Trust before being carried out. No planting or cutting of willows shall be done except by the Trust. Drainage : Each of the ridings mentioned may be formed into a Drainage Board to do the drainage-work of its riding, and may obtain reports, plans, and estimates of drainage-works required, from the River Trust. The Drainage Board shall then proceed to raise the money from its area, and, having done so, shall carry out the work itself or request the River Trust to do so. The maintenance of the drainage-works shall be done by the Drainage Board. Government nominees : The River Commissioners may be appointed as Government representatives on any River Trust similarly constituted, and they shall report progress to the Minister of Public Works after each meeting of the River Trust. It shall also be their duty to see that all. valuable data are collected and forwarded to Wellington for embodying in the Government archives. Insurance fund : Your Commissioners consider that the following sums should be paid by the various interests, in the proportions set out below, towards an insurance fund; the sums to be set aside annually and invested in a similar way to that in which sinking funds are controlled, as an insurance fund from which shall be met the cost of repairing or paying for any damage, not including damage to river-protection works, which may occur by reason of the possible failure of the works :— £ Barnego .. .. .. 20 Balclutha Borough . . . . . . 100 Inch-Clutha .. . . .. .. 160 Lakes district .. . . 80 Otanomomo district .. .. 70 Kaitangata Borough . . . . 30 Coal-mines .. .. .. 30 General Government . . .. . . 110 £600 This suggestion is on similar lines to that made by your Commissioners in their report on the Maerewhenua River problem. It is recognized that any work of man, however well maintained, cannot be considered as absolutely infallible. While your Commissioners consider that their recommendations will enable any flood such as has been, experienced hitherto to be safely passed, nevertheless failure might occur by reason of faulty maintenance, a flood of unprecedented magnitude, sudden erosion due to a change of direction of current during a flood, or' other cause. Should such failure occur certain of those intended to be protected will, suffer' much greater damage than others, and it is to recompense them for this, and to make the sacrifice equitable, that the insurance fund is recommended. It has nothing to do with expenditure incurred for the restoration of river-protection works which may be damaged. The moneys for this insurance fund shall be collected by the Lower , Clutha River Trust, and shall be invested as before mentioned. On the receipt of claims for , damages the Trust shall have an investigation made by a Stipendiary Magistrate assisted by two assessors to be selected by the Stipendiary Magistrate, preferably