III

C—l 4

(JO MAI ESSION. Plunket, Governor. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to William Ferguson, Esq , oj Wellington, civil engineer; Frederick Robert Flatman, Eg of Geraldine farmer; Edwin Mitchelson, Esq., of Auckland merchant and Charles Ranken Vickerman, of Wellington, civil engineer ' Whereas by a Proclamation, dated the twenty-fifth day of March eighteen hundred and ninety-five, the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers, in the Ha rat Mining District and the Auckland Land District, were, in accordance witl c Mining Act then in force, duly proclaimed as watercourses into S telWs waste water, and mining debris from mining claims in their vicinity migKe discharged : And whereas it is now claimed that by the operation of th § c said Proclamation landowners in the vicinity of these rivers are injuriously affected a rid that the navigation of the said rivers is impeded ■ m,-m2.°S M ere v re j Lee, Baron Plunket, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in pursuance of all powers and authorities m anywise enabling me in that behalf, do hereby appoint you, the said V William Ferguson, Frederick Robert Flatman, Edwin Mitchelson, and Charles Ranken Vickerman to be a Commission to inquire and report as to (1.) Whether any and what lands are injuriously affected by the operation of the said Proclamation; ' (2.) Whether the navigation of the said rivers is, or is likely to be seriously impeded from the same cause; (3.) What, if any, remedial measures can be adopted without injury to any other persons, corporations, or interests(4.) What proportion of the cost of carrying out your'recommendations should be a charge against the revenue derived by any local bodies from the mines interested in the use of the said watercourses(s.) And generally to report your opinion on all matters arising- out ot or touching the premises. Wi ,f nd ™ th the + lik , e a i* vice and consent Ido further appoint you, the said William Ferguson, to be Chairman of the said Commission And for the better enabling you to carry these presents into effect you are hereby authorized and empowered to make and conduct any inquiry under these presents at such place or places in the said Dominion as'you may deem expedient with power to adjourn from time to time and from place to place as you think fit, and to examine in such manner as may lie allowed by law any person or persons that you may think capable of affording you any information in the premises; and yon are also hereby empowered to examine all such books documents, papers, maps, plans, or records as you judge likely to afford you the'fullest information on the subject of this commission, and to inquire of and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever; and also to use the evidence taken in the course of any previous inquiry touching the premises ii—C. 14.