D.—6e

Session IT. 1921. NEW ZEALAND.

WAIHI RIVER (REPORT OF RIVERS COMMISSION ON).

Presented to both Houses of the. General Assembly by Command of His Hxcelle.ncij

REPORT. To His Excellency the Right Honourable John Rushworth, Viscount Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Member of the Order of Merit, Governor-General and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— The Governor-General's 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, and such other rivers as might be added thereto from time to time. The Governor-General's further Warrant, dated the 22nd July, 1919, added to the Commission the Waihi, Wairau, Waiau-uha, Taieri, and Aparima Rivers. The time within which we were required to furnish our reports was extended by the Governor-General to the 7th June, 1920, further extended to the 7th December, 1920, and still further extended to the 7th March, 1921. The present report deals only with the Waihi River. The reports on the Clutha, Orari, Rangitata, Waimakariri, Ashley, Maerewhenua, Wairau, Waiau-uha, Taieri, and Aparima Rivers have already been presented. The Governor-General'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 ;