D.—6

2

to be a Commission under the said Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908, for the purpose of holding an inquiry and making a report upon the following matters, and the necessity of any legislation relating thereto : — 1. The best method of providing for the control of the Wairau River and its tributaries so as to safeguard the lands affected, and to provide for the effective control and improvement of the rivers and their banks. 2. The desirability of appointing one competent authority to control the whole of the river and its tributaries. 3. The area which should be included in such district if constituted. 4. Whether, in addition to the powers contained in the River Boards Act, 1908, the powers contained in the Land Drainage Act should also be conferred upon the Board of the proposed district, and whether any other powers in addition to those contained in the said Acts should be conferred on such Board. 5. Any other matters which may be brought before you in connection with the question of protection of land from damage by the Wairau River. And with the like advice and consent I do further appoint you, the said Frank O'Brien Loughnan, to be Chairman of the said Commission ; and, further, I do require you to report to me your opinion as to the aforesaid matters within sixty days of the date hereof ; and, lastly, it is hereby declared that these presents are issued under and subject to the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908. Given under the hand of His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies ; and issued under the seal of the said Dominion, at the Government House at Wellington, this twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventeen. G. W. Russell, Approved in Council. Minister of Internal Affairs. J. F. Andrews, Clerk of the Executive Council.