THE RIVERS COMMISSION. (By Our Special Reporter.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 42

THE RIVERS COMMISSION. (By Our Special Reporter.)

WAIKAIA, May 23.

Evidence was heard by the Rivers Commission at the Courthouse to-day in regard to the proposed proclamation of the Waikaia River as a sludge channel. It appeared that many of the farmers holding land along the river had either sold or given options over then.' lands for dredging at prices ranging from J3lO to £20 an acre. In flood time the valley is mostly under water, and the fear was expressed, that ths banking of tailings from dredges would completely alter the course, of the river, which at present has a tendency to shift its banks. Evidence was tendei-ed fr<jm the mining point of view to the effect that highly payable prospects had been obtained in the valley, the greater part of which had been pegged out. The following witnesses were examined : — J. P. Thomson, George Pinckney, Alexander Gall, M. Mlvay, E. M'Kinnel, Arthur Robert lionagh.an, T. Taylor, James Stevenson, "WT Fewings, John Dennis, George Dennis (2), and D. Hurley, The commissioners next proceed to Invercargill to inspect the • Hedgehope and Titipua, streams.