D.-6b

10

The following table gives the approximate capital values of the lands and properties affected by floods :—

Your Commissioners, having received the necessary plans, met again in Dunedin on the 17th February, 1920, and, after revisiting the salient points on the Clutha River, drew up their report, and now beg to submit their findings on the various heads in the order of reference, as follows : — Reference No. 1. To inquire into the cause or causes of the silting-up of the channel, the flooding of the adjacent lands by the said river, and erosion of its banks and the damage to the surrounding country. This is largely due to the quantity of debris coming down from the mining operations in the many tributaries of the river draining the gold-bearing country, and acting as sludge-channels for the mining operations carried on therein ; also to the acceleration of natural denudation by removal —by burning, agricultural, and pastoral operations —of the protective covering of natural vegetation, thereby giving the river an overcharge of detritus in excess of its natural carrying-capacity. The fact that the traffic-bridge at Balclutha has a throttling effect upon even small floods has assisted to aggravate the silting-up between the town and Barnego Flat. A certain amount of silting in the Koau and Matau Branches has also been caused by the growth of willows, though in this river this frequent cause of trouble is not so pronounced. Reference No. 2. To ascertain the nature and extent of the damage done to the lands adjacent to the said river, and what area of land is affected by such floods or erosion, or both, ami whether it is practicable at reasonable expense to prevent such flooding or erosion, or both, either wholly or partially. The damage is of a manifold nature : — (.1.) Actual erosion of the banks. (2.) Damage to the improvements on the land, and the crops being grown thereon, by overflowing. The flood-waters sometimes lie on portions of the ground sufficiently long to kill the vegetation, and in other places they carry such a quantity of silt as completely covers the vegetation, and kills both grass and crops. The amount of damage done varies greatly with the season and consequent condition of agricultural operations, but history does not seem to show any definite

District. Area. Capital Value. Totals. Farm lands Baniego Otanomomo Inch-Clutha Lakes district Acres. 563 6,700 6,780 5,120 £ 9,000 84,000 150,000 100,000 £ Boroughs and towns Balclutha Kaitangata. . Stirling 19,163 209,000 110,000 5,000 343,000 324,000 440 Government property Railway-line, Balclutha Government Buildings, Balclutha 25,000 8,000 Freezing-works Finegand works Carcases in store 100,000 350,000 33,000 I Private railways . . Kaitangata Taratu 17,000 25,000 450,000 42,000 £1.192,000