T. M. ROMNSON.

34

C—l 4.

71 Have you pulled a barge on the river?—l have pulled a boat where there was, roughly speaking Bft of water in some places, and now cows can walk out and drink there. In the summer-time I believe there was Bft. of water once, and 1 do not believe there is any water at all there flow in the summer-time. 72. .17/-. Tunks.] Is there any depth of water at the bend?— There is a fair depth ol watei going round the bend. 73. Is not that bend a very sharp bend?— Yes. . 74. You only made one attempt to find out what the bottom of the river was like?— Unit " 8 75 We shall produce evidence to show conclusively that there are practically no tailings at all there. Have you not found the channel alter during the ten years?— Yes, but not at my place. _ 76 The river has varied from side to side in some places/—U-s. 77' Do you say that the variation in the shallows of the river is greater than 1. used to be. -Within the last two or three years I have not been able to get down without dragging the bottom —that is, at low tide. .„«,.,„ 1 rm 1 ~ . ,1.,,, half 78. Mr. Clendon.] The "Waimarie" and ■Taniwha cine up at a little better than halttide?—Yes. 79. Drawing what / Six feet, 1 suppose. 1.11 80. Have you ever seen them ground il, the neighbourhood ot your placet—l have seen behind them a darkening of tin- water as wide as this room. SI. The Chairman.] What colour was the water?- It was more like the disturbing ot sand. 82 She did not stick, did she?—l have not seen her. 83 Mr Clendon | How did your creamery cheque for 1000 compare with your cheque for 1910?— My creamery cheque fell very considerably in consequence ol Ihe flood. Si You say you went there about ten years ago? -Yes. 85. What did vo„ pay for y,,ur property?— About £4 an acre. SO. What was'the Government valuation last year/ £2.000 on the -132 acres. 87 That is about £8 an acre? —Yes. „,..•„ T , .1 ■,-. • S,V. Your land, 1 think, is for the most part low-lying flat land ? -No ; I do not think it IS any more so than the others'. 89 Rut it is flat land on the river-bank? —Yea. 90! You told us that you had seen cattle drinking near Wight 8 place at low water: when was that?—l believe I have seen them this season. 01 You say your property was under water for five days?— For tour or live days. qV Were all' the properties in the vicinity under water for five days too?-I suppose they NV, ''...-i. During last summer, I think you milked, more cattle than you had milked before ?-No : you found over your grass afte, .1, five days' flood-did you test it in Bn , way see whether i, was harmful?-, believe that woohl be a matter or an expor . I know mc cow's will not ~1. it. I do no, think it is a fair thing tor me to allow then, to eat it, and then affects the cattle injuriously?-',',,,, cattle do no, ,00k as WCU flame polish on their coats /-No, and it is not on their ribs either. 9?" Mr MueUer 1 You have spoken a lot about the shallowing that has taken place in the so far as , can see?-It consists of ground ore"as caused the narrowing or shallowing of the ,:„. ..-1.., + would you sav?—l should say tailings. ..... 1 11 100 You remember after the last flood there was some deposit of tailings on your land/ Y " S ' 10, Did you show tha, t„ the County Engine**?- Yes: he took some samples for 4 chains acre can you glre US any idea as to what you consider the value 0 that land would be if there ;;/;,.'„„ tailings in the river at alii—l would not take £10 per acre for it.

Paeroa, Wednesday, 25th May, 1910. Alfred Teti.ey examined. (No. 13.) 1. Mr. Mueller.] Your name is Alfred Tetley, and you are a draper carrying on business al Paeroa?- Yes. T„.i;,-e,.tlr i farmer —representing my mother. [, is between the railway-line and Bertelsen's. 1 It is agricultural land? —Yes. .",. You have no frontage actually to the river?—No C. Your land is subject to floods?— Yes. rWvsit of silt?— Pretty well three 7. How much of that 200 acres is actually affected by the deposit ot . quarters, more or less.