On Thursday the Commission resumed its sittings at Leeston. the first witness examined 1 being Mr D. M'Millan, Chair man of the Selwyn County Council, whose evidence was to the effect that formerly the Maoria supplied flounders of better quality than the fishermen do now. He attributed the small size of the fish now taken to excessive fishing, and was of opinion that no fish should be taken under - lOin in length, nor any net used tbat would hold a smaller size. He stated that .since the Little River railway had been made the lake had never been allowed to get bo high aB formerly. The Selwyn County Council had advised the Government to create a drainage district that would include alllandß affected by the lake, including the ontlet. From enquiries that had been v . j made he wbb convinced that the lake could be prevented from being so high as at pres- . ant, and could be kept at a more uniform level. Some years ago he had met the fishermen on the "ground to consider the possibility of having the outlet at a differ ent place, so as to prevent the present loss of spawn and young fish, which they represented as occurring through the lake being let out at the place used at present. The point they considered more advan tageous, would be about a mile to the east of the plaice where the lake was let out now. He thought about 21,000 acres of Crown, lands were, affected by the rise and fall of the lake at present, part of which would always be subject to be inundated by the rise of the lake, but if the Coun cil's suggestions were carried out, not more than 10,000 acres would be affected. The evidence of Nicholas Bassi, John Stretz, Aleo Lazaritta, C. Johnson and J. Macgalda waß taken, and was similar in purport to that already given by the other -shermen.
