THE RIVERS COMMISSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11917, 15 December 1900, Page 8

THE RIVERS COMMISSION.

(Fkom Our Own Corkksfo'n'dent.)

LAWRENCE, December 14.

The Rivers Commission were engaged on Tuesday and Wednesday inspecting the I'ruidbum and adjacent mining claims, and yesterday took evidence at Miller's Flat regarding the proposed proclamation of the stream as a sludge channel. The Island Block Company objected to the stream being proclaimed' on the ground that the discharge of silt and tailings into the creek (from which the company gets its water supply) would have- the effect of damaging their'plant and workings, which represented an expenditure of about £40,000 by the original company. Evidence was tendered by Messrs Ne.es and Wood (directors) that it was proposed to put six dredges on the company's ground, to be worked by electricity, besides carrying on the present hydraulic sluicing. P. M'La-ughlin, M. Cahill, and J. Colgan testified to the injurycaused to pipes through which muddy water was run. Messrs Rattray and Son, owners of the Beaumont station, claimed £2800 as compensation for prospective damage to their pre-emptive right of 640 acres in the event of the stream being proclaimed, through the deposit of tailings on their flat land. James Menzies, station manager, gave evidence in substantiation of the claim. Louis Faigan, Andrew Donaldson, William Pearson, James Bowdon, parties in a sluicing claim, supported the issue of the proclamation, and gave rebutting testimony as to the damage likely to be caused to the Beaumont station and the plant of the Island Block Company. It appeared that the amount of gold won since" November last by this party was less than £25. To-day the commission arrived at Lawrence.