Tg. BUCHANAN.

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26. What distance up the Waihou can you find mining tailings?—At the mouth of the Waihou, almost at the Junction, there is a large island of tailings: and for a distance of two miles up the river tailings are to be found on either side. 27. The Chairman.] What extent of tailings? —There are greater quantities nearer the June tion, and in a lesser degree lor about two miles up. 28. Mr. Mueller.] How do you account for those tailings being found two miles up the Waihou River? —When the Ohinemuri is in flood it rises quicker than the Waihou, and when the water cannot get away past the Junction quick enough it has to back up the Waihou. 29. The Cliairman.] You think it goes up, and takes the tailings with i, /—lt backs up the Waihou. The Ohinemuri water comes down much quicker than the Waihou. 30. Mr. Mueller.] You know the Waihou right up to Te Aroha?—For about eight miles past the Junction. 31. Above two miles from the Junction, what is the state of the Waihou compared with htteen or eighteen years ago?— Practically the same as it was fifteen or eighteen years ago. There is an isfand a good way up that has a bank of river-sand behind it. 32. How far is that from the Junction? —I should say about seven or eight miles up. It maj be a little less. 33. Do you know the Waimarie Bend? —Yes. 34. Whereabouts is that .'—The point of the river below the Rangiora Road, pretty well op posite Robinson's place. , 35. What can you state about the Waimarie Bend/ — There is a point ot tailings running out there, about 30 ft. or 40 ft., I should say. 36 Generally, what effect have these tailings on the river/—Narrowing the banks to a great extent on the main Waihou, and in the Ohinemuri filling up the river-bed, and also encroaching on the banks to a very great extent. 37 The Chairman.] Why do you think the river-bed is being filled up from below/- Ihe Waihou is pinching or narrowing, except the larger banks at the Junction. lam speaking of the main Waihou River. The banks are encroaching in the main Waihou from the Junction down. 38. You do not think the lied is Vising 2—No. 39 Have you any reason for saving that .'—We went down in a boat, and we could not trod any appreciable extent of lied rising, but we could see evidence of the sides encroaching. 40? Do you think the bottom is of the same character as it was before?—les. very much the same. 41 As far as the nature of the bottom is concerned? —Yes. 42. Is that all the way down from the Junction?—No ; there are banks beyond the Junction—more particularly just below the junction of the two rivers. 43 You think that below Te Puke what you say is right?— Yes: the banks are encroaching ~re itlv below Te'Puke. There are spits running out here and there. Just below Netherton There is an island—just about a mile down-an island with a willow-tree at the top end of it 44 1//- Mueller] As regards the Ohinemuri, can you say whether the bottom has tilled up.' -Yes;'in some places near the top you could hardly touch the bottom with an oar once, and you can almost walk across it now. 45 Isthat in one or two places or in many places?—ln many places 46 What is the effect of that on the drainage of the country?— Naturally the water canno ge, away quick enough, and the capacity of the river has been so much decreased that it must go over the banks. 47. It flows over the banks.'—Yes. 48 Coming down to your own land—the Huiuhuru Block that you mentioned : can you state what area has been damaged/-About 10 acres altogether ot that land. It ,8 only that bind that the river and tailings have been over. 49 Mr Vickerman.] That is not destroyed, it is damaged 1 -There is about 5 acres of riverbank that used to grow very good feed. It is completely damaged :it is useless there is about ifacres of Chinamen's garden. The adjoining paddocks are practically useless owing to the useless for gardening purposes or for gl ' aSS sl Mr Mitchelson.] Is there any grass on that land?— Yes, in some places. -,2' The Chairman] You say that 5 acres has been completely destroyed?—lt will not carry anythinglke whatit should carry. It will carry very little indeed: in fact it is impossible to Ploughft "There are patches that will grow, a little grass. The silt is too deep injured, about 40 acies t* acres w* gardens, tenanted by Ah Foy and All and Vincent j annua rent £. pt a aim * by . ™pi« Valuer Total annualrent, £104; total capital value. ,2.100. Soning interest ats per cent, on the capital value, .would be •"*«."<>■ 54. What is the Government valuation of that land?-About £1,800. ,