D.—Ba

2

" (c) To report your opinion as to what matters, if any, should be adjusted by legislation ; and " (d.) Generally, to report your opinion on all matters arising out of or touching the premises, including the question as to whether or not one or more competent authorities shall be appointed to control the whole or any portion of the said river, and what statutory powers should be possessed by such authority." The Governor-General's Commission also required us to report separately in respect of each river. Investigations made. Sittings, Evidence, and, Inspections. —On the 18th June, 1920, the Chairman and Mr. Hay proceeded from Wellington to Blenheim to make the necessary inspection of the Wairau River, Mr. Hunter being unable to accompany the other Commissioners on account of indisposition. It was arranged, however, that Mr. Hunter should visit the district at a later date and make an inspection of. the salient features of the river. On the 19th June the Chairman and Mr. Hay, accompanied by the Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department, Blenheim, inspected the Wairau River between Blenheim and Dillon's Point, from which place, in company with the Chairman of the Wairau Harbour Board and the Harbourmaster, an examination by launch and rowing-boat was made of the training-wall and entrance of the river at the bar. After completing the inspection of this locality the Commissioners proceeded up the left bank of the Wairau, inspecting the Marukoko and Pukaka drains, and continuing up to where the Pukaka Stream debouches from the hills, and out to the sea-coast at White's Bay. On the same day the Commissioners motored via Springlands and the Middle Road and Renwicktown up the right bank of the Wairau River, examining the groynes to the junction of the Waihopai with the Wairau. On the following day the Commissioners motored, up the Taylor River to Renwicktown, thence up the right bank of the Wairau as far as its confluence with the branch river, a distance of forty-four miles ; on the return journey a detour was made, the Commissioners crossing the Wairau Bridge near Renwicktown and inspecting the protective works in the locality, and returning to Blenheim via Grovetown. On the 21st June the Commission held a sitting in the Courthouse at Blenheim, examining eleven witnesses, chiefly members of the various River and Drainage Boards on the Wairau River. On the following day the Commissioners made an inspection of the Spring Creek and Tuamarina districts. Subsequently, on the 27th August, Mr. Hunter proceeded to Blenheim and, in company with the Assistant Engineer, Public; Works Department, Blenheim, made an inspection of the salient features of the district, covering practically the same ground as that inspected by his colleagues in June. Nomenclature. The Wairau River divides into two branches near Renwicktown, the north branch, which is the main river, retaining its name of " Wairau," while the south branch, which flows through the Town of Blenheim, is known as the " Opawa." The Omaka River, which at one time flowed through Blenheim, has been cut off by a diversion near Renwicktown, and now flows into and is a tributary of the Opawa. The Fairhall River, Mill Creek, and Taylor River flow into the old Omaka River channel ; but to prevent confusion this old Omaka channel below its junction with the Fairhall, and until it flows into the Opawa below Blenheim, will be referred to as the " Fairhall River," the Taylor River junctioning with it just west of Blenheim. The Tuamarina River enters the Wairau just above the railway-crossing. The Pukaka Stream rises in the hills between the Tuamarina and the coast and has no defined natural channel into the Wairau, but the waters, instead of