D.—6b.

2

" (c.) To report your opinion as to what matters, if any, should be adjusted by legislation : and " (d.) Generally, to report your opinion on all matters arising out of or touching the premises, including the question as to whether or not one or more competent authorities shall be appointed to control the whole or any portion of the said river, and what statutory powers should be possessed by such authority." The Governor-General's Commission also required us to report separately in respect of each river. Investigations made. Sittings, Evidence, and Inspections. —A sitting of the Commission was held in the Memorial Hall, Waiau, on the 25th July, .1919, when the evidence of six witnesses was taken. Immediately afterwards your Commissioners made an inspection of a portion of the river in the vicinity of Mr. Foster's farm, where erosion was taking place. On the following day your Commissioners examined the river at Spotswood, where a sitting of the Commission was held, five witnesses being examined. After viewing the river and taking evidence, your Commissioners formed the opinion that it was not possible, at reasonable expense, to protect the banks of this river against flooding and erosion, in view of the small area and moderate value of the lands actually affected and the large size and rough character of the river to be controlled. Though undoubtedly any of the standard methods of protection could be made to control the river, and adequate levees would prevent overflowing, the cost of these works would be out of proportion to the benefits to be derived. Your Commissioners therefore do not consider it either necessary or advisable to go further into the matter. No doubt valuable work can be done by the Count)' Council at special points, and by the settlers themselves in some cases. In common with other rivers examined by us, we could not help being struck with the bad effect caused by the growth, of exotic vegetation in the river-bed, which is leading to the permanence of islands which would otherwise be transitory, and consequently to the erosion of the permanent banks. Great assistance to the protection of the banks would be afforded by the clearing of this vegetation ; in fact, without first clearing the river-bed any other work is more or less premature. On the other hand, your Commissioners do not consider that any better protection can be adopted than the planting of valuable and quick-growing timber-trees along the river-bank in. a fairly wide belt. These trees are in themselves valuable, and should pay the individual settlers for the land they occupy, and in addition would act as very valuable protection. No doubt they will prove inadequate in some places, but the general effect will be good. While not contradicting the general statement above re unwarranted expense, protection at points where attack is particularly vigorous might be provided by justifiable expenditure. Your Commissioners are of the opinion that although the exigencies of the case may not warrant the setting-up of a special Board to control the whole of the river and its banks, nevertheless united action to the extent of employing first-class engineering advice at the common expense would be justified when the protection of any salient point, as indicated above, is contemplated. This our report, which has been unanimously adopted, we have the honour to submit for the consideration of Your Excellency, together with the transcript of the evidence taken by us in the course of our investigations. Given under our hands and seals this 5th day of March, 1921. F. W. Furkert, Chairman. Ashley J. Hunter,)Members of F. C. Hay, j Commission.

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