H—2B

Counties of Waikato, Piako, Taupo, Taumarunui, Waitomo, Franklin, Matamata, and Rotorua; the City of Hamilton, the Boroughs of Huntly, Te Kuiti, Te Awamutu, Cambridge, and Ngaruawahia, as well as the Town Districts of Leamington, Otorohanga, Tuakau, and Taupo. The Dependent Town Districts of Mercer, Kawhia, Te Kauwhata, Ohaupo, and Kihikihi were deemed, for the purpose of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act, 1941, to form part of the county in which they were situated. The area of the proposed district was approximately 6,380 square miles, with an •estimated population of 102,400 and a rateable capital value of £38,838,000. It embraced the whole of the drainage basin of the Waikato River, together with the basins of rivers and streams draining into the Raglan, Aotea, and Kawhia Harbours, as well as all other rivers and streams draining into the Tasman Sea from the Raglan Heads in the North to the drainage basin of the Marokopa River in the south, and also the catchments of all streams flowing to the western side of the Firth of Thames from the trig point Kohukohunui on the north to and including the Pukorohoro Creek in the south. In submitting this application to the Commission the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council stated that the constitution of a Catchment Board in this area.would result in minimizing of flooding, the drainage of swamp land, the prevention or mitigation of soil erosion, and the promotion of soil conservation. It was claimed that there was considerable soil erosion in certain parts of the area, together with a potential problem on the erodable pumice lands. There were some twenty Drainage Boards in the area, over which a Catchment Board would have general supervisory control, sponsoring additional work, and co-ordinating their activities for the general good of-the area. Representations were made by counsel for one of the parties that, as certain of the urban local authorities in the proposed district would receive no direct benefit, but would be called upon to contribute towards the administrative rate, it was considered equitable that other urban authorities, not within the scope of the inquiry, and as far north as Auckland, which would receive indirect benefits in a similar way should be included in the proposed catchment district. It was pointed out. however, that if this proposition were to be considered opportunity would have to be given for these other urban authorities to be heard on the question. In adjourning the inquiry sine die to be brought on at one month's notice, the Commission indicated that it would give consideration to the question which had arisen—the inclusion of the Auckland Metropolitan Area in the proposed catchment district. Subsequently, the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council undertook to thoroughly investigate the catchment problem in the Auckland district, and further consideration will be given to the question when its report is received. (3) Bay of Plenty Catchment District As a result of a proposal by the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council to constitute a catchment district for the Bay of Plenty the Commission held a public inquiry at Whakatane on the 28th of April, 1948. The district proposed embraced the catchments of all rivers and streams flowing into the Bay of Plenty, extending from Waihi in the west to and including the Waiaua River in the east, and comprised an .area of 4,230 square miles, including the whole of the Counties of Whakatane and Tauranga and parts of Opotiki, Waikohu, Taupo, Rotorua, Matamata Counties, together with the Boroughs of Opotiki, Whakatane,, Rotorua, Te Puke, Tauranga, and Mount Maunganui.. The population in this area was •estimated as 43,080 and the estimated rateable capital value as £17,160,000.

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