I.—sb.

32

[M. ELLIOTT.

52. Mr. Allan.] With regard to Mr. William Shand's land : He gave evidence here this morning, and he said it would take a wall 30 ft. high on the Owhiro Creek to keep the flood-water from his land. Can you give the depth and width of the Owhiro Creek? —At present down at Allanton it is 40 ft, or 50 ft. wide and 13 ft. deep. 53. Were you here when the record flood took place?— No. 54. Well, have you been told that Mr. William Shand's land, to the extent of 800 acres, was covered to an average depth of 8 ft.?—l do not know, but I got from Mr. William Shand the level of the flood at his house, and also from Mr. Kirkland. The level of the flood on the lowest part of Mr. William Shand's land is 13 ft. 55. Would you be surprised to hear that there was an average depth over the whole of his property of Bft.? —Well, I make it that there was an average depth of 12 ft, 56. That is one farm, but round about the land near the river was all covered with water?— Yes. 57. How high do you propose to put the wall on the Owhiro Creek?—l think it was 19 ft, 58. Do you think a wall on that stream 19 ft. high would keep that tremendous volume of water in the Owhiro? —Yes, undoubtedly; it must do. 59. Although there was an average depth of 12 ft. spread over a tremendous distance, you think it could be contained in that small stream with a wall 19 ft. high?— You do not understand what I mean. 60. Well, I want the Committee to understand you?--The Owhiro flows into the river through high ground, and then immediately you leave that high ground you come to low ground. What I propose to do is to take the bank at a safe level from that point and carry it along the Owhiro till high land is reached. Then the effect would be that when the river came down, instead of flowing through the Owhiro gap and flooding the low land, it would simply flow in through the gap at the outlet and be confined to the Owhiro. 61. You propose that that wall should be 19ft. high?— Well, take it at a safe height above the flood-level —about 16 ft. 62. You propose a wall of 16 ft. as against what Mr. Shand says —that it would require a wall of 30 ft. ?—Yes. 63. You have got some information about the depth of the water—you say an average depth of 12 ft. —and that is spread right over 800 acres. Do you think a wall 16 ft. high in a stream like that will contain that tremendous volume of water? —You do not want that. What is required is a better water-way at Allanton to let the water away. 64. I understood you to say that you would put a wall on the side of the stream to keep the water in the stream, to prevent it flooding Shand's land?—To keep the water from going round and flooding the low land. 65. The most serious floods are caused by the water going out of the river up the streams? — That is so. 66. You know the depth of water that extended over that area, and I understood you were going to erect a bank there?—To keep the water from going through and across the line of embankment. 67. You will admit that, notwithstanding that bank, the water will go up the Owhiro Stream? —Yes. 68. Do you think that a bank 13 ft. high on the western side of the Owhiro Creek will contain that enormous body of water in there, taking into consideration the volume of water that does go enormous body of water in there, taking into consideration the volume of water that does go through?—l think that your idea is that you are afraid that, if there is a large body of water held by the bank, the whole of that water is pressing against the bank and will sweep it away — which is not the case. 69. With regard to the cut which you referred to as the straight cut in the Silverstream, that is an artificial cut, is it not?—lt is artificial, but there is a natural depression there. 70. From the lagoon into the river?— Yes. 71. Do you know by whom that cut was made? —I do not know. 72. What is the effect of that cut, taking into consideration the fact that it, is facing the current of the river—what is the result when a flood comes?— The flood-water undoubtedly flows up the straight cut. 73. The river is rushing into the point against the cut?—To some extent, but not altogether— there is a slight curve. 74. And the water rushes in there and up the Silverstream?—Not up the cut particularly, but through the depression that is there. 75. And that is the place that I referred to the other day as having been silted up to Mr. Kirkland's property to a depth of two or three fences?—l do not know about that. 76. Will not that inrush of water meet the Silverstream water, and settle the gravel as well as the silt?— The water going through will undoubtedly settle the gravel in the lagoon. 77. The artificial cut which has been made by the settlers apparently caused the settlement of the gravel in the Silverstream?—At the point there is a natural depression, which admits a considerably greater volume than the artificial channel. 78. And is the proposal to take the Silverstream down to a point so that it will go with the river where it joins it? —Yes. 79. So that the current of the river will be drawing the water out rather than driving it in? —Yes. There is higher ground at the original outlet than there is at the straight cut. 80. And I suppose the result of that will be that the two streams flowing in the same direction will have a tendency to keep the Silverstream clearer?—lt is the natural outlet,