22

[j. gow

I.—6b.

37. Can you tell us what the effect on your land was by the making of that original cut?— The effect, so far as I know, was that instead of the stream running in a zigzag manner it ran straight. 38. And what was the effect on your land?—lt was made for the purpose of straightening the stream and, I have no doubt, for taking away the surplus water. 39. And you say there is not a great quantity of gravel being carried down the Silverstream? —There is none whatever from the place where the Silverstream was cut. 40. Have you not had the curiosity to go down to Renton's and Charters's to see whether any large quantity was being carried down by the stream?—l have been down there and I have seen a certain amount of deposit down there. 41. When were you last there?—l have not been there for a considerable time. 42. Some years or months? —More than a year. 43. Was there much of the old channel of the Silverstream filled up in those days? —It was pretty well filled up. It was wriggling about, and willows were planted all through it. 44. Would you believe that within the last thirteen months about 10 chains of the stream on the flat has been filled up with gravel ?—I could not say. 45. You would not be surprised? —Yes, I should be surprised. It may be so. 46. You'could not suggest where the gravel came from? —Yes, I know where it comes from. 47. You say very little has been carried down? —From the part within the drainage-area. 48. It came from further up apparently? —Yes, right from the hill. 4!). Have you seen it travelling down? —Yes, I have seen it coming down. 50. Do you know of your own knowledge where it conies from? —I cannot help knowing as to the great bulk of it. 51. Is it because you see it travelling down?—l see the stream coming down when it is very dirty, when a flood is on. 52. But the fact is that you cannot tell from your own knowledge where this gravel comes from which has filled up Renton's and Charters's? —I know it is coming from there. I can tell you that. 53. The Chairman.] Can it come from anywhere else—is there any other stream?—No, not that quantity. 54. Mr. Forbes.] You said you signed every protest?— Yes. 55. Did you protest against the Bill that Mr. Reid put through?— Yes, we signed a petition. It was almost a unanimous petition against being included in the Taieri Drainage-area, I myself posted that petition to Mr. Reid. 56. Do you know what the regulations were with regard to the taking-up of land in the early days, when the North Taieri was settled? I allude to the Otago Land Regulations. Are you aware what the regulations were when the laud was taken up in that neighbourhood?—l do not know of my own knowledge. 57. You were asked as to your knowledge of how the gravel came down to the lower part. Do you know whether it went from the cut opposite your neighbourhood?—l know very well that none goes from there—none during the last twenty-five years. 58. Could it come from anywhere else than there? —Yes, just above the very top of the drainage district. During a slight scour five or six tons perhaps have gone away from there during the last five or six years. 59. Where would most of it come from if it did not come from this district?— From the Whare Flat —from the neighbourhood of the Silver Peaks. 60. That is your belief?— Yes. 61. Mr. Witty.] Did the Commission recommend the classification of the land on the East Taieri or recommend the areas as classified by the Board, or did the Board on their own initiative classify the lands? —I do not think the classification was recommended by the Commission. I think it was a matter that was brought up by Parliament. The classification was left to the Board entirely. 62. The Act did not come into force until after the Commission had been set up? —No. The Act was passed as the result of the report of the Commission. 63. Seeing that four-fifths of the ratepayers objected to inclusion in the Drainage Board, can you give any reason why it was passed other than what Mr. Reid has stated, that you did not have an opportunity of petitioning Parliament?— No. I understand that the Legislature did not know that four-fifths of the people objected to it. Several members of the House told me so. They said they had no idea there was any objection to it at all. 64. Has the new Board done anything towards clearing the lower end of the Silverstream?— I understand they have done something at the lower end. 65. Have they done anything else on the eastern side? —Not on the side where I am situated — nothing whatever. William Gawn examined. (No. 12.) 1. The Chairman.] What are you?—A farmer at North Taieri. 2. Mr. Reid.] You are a ratepayer?— Yes. 3. On the East Taieri side of the Taieri River?— Yes. 4. Where is jour land situated as compared with Mr. Gow's? —It is right on the other side of the Silverstream. [Pointed out on plan.] It is right on the edge of the drainage-area, and the Mill Creek flows through part of my property. 5. Is it much in the same position as regards elevation as Mr. Gow's? —Yes, I understand it is from 80 ft, to 100 ft. above flood-level.