D.-6

1917. NEW ZEALAND

WAIRAU RIVER COMMISSION (REPORT OF THE); TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE:

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

COMMISSION?

Liverpool, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Frank O'Brien Loughnan, Esquire, Stipendiary Magistrate, Blenheim ; Frederick William Furkert, Esquire, Inspecting Engineer, Public Works Department, Wellington ;. Charles Rankin Vickerman, Esquire, Civil Engineer, Wellington : Greeting. Whereas certain matters regarding the Lower Wairau and Spring Creek River Boards were before the Court of Appeal in the year one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, such Court holding (inter alia) that the proceedings showed that it was highly desirable to have one competent authority constituted for both the Spring Creek and Wairau River Districts in the general interest of the whole : And whereas a resolution was passed at a joint meeting of representatives of the following local bodies on the fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and seventeen —namely, Spring Creek River Board, Spring Creek Road Board, Lower Wairau River Board, Pukaka Drainage Board, Wairau Maori Drainage Board, Tuamarina River Board, Picton Road Board, Wairau Harbour Board, Blenheim Borough Council —requesting the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the question of river-conservation in the Marlborough District: And whereas it is considered desirable that an inquiry should be made into the subject-matter of the said resolution : Now, therefore, I, Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in exercise of the powers and authorities conferred upon me by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, and of all other powers in any wise enabling me in this behalf, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby appoint you, the said Frank O Brien Loughnan, Frederick William Furkert, Charles Rankin Vickerman,

I—D. 6.