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Q-Are you of opinion that that duty has been performed thoroughly?
A-It is utterly impossible that it could have been. The immense amount of building work that has been carried on would have required a large staff to look after it thoroughly.
Q-That being so, how can you explain that the head of the Department quite recently gave it as his opinion that the staff of the Department did not require to be increased ?*
A-I can't say.
Q-With regard to the members of your staff generally are you satisfied with them?
A-I think they are a very good lot of men all round.
Q-You have no suggestion to make with regard to any of them?
A-It is rather a difficult subject for me to speak on.
Q-Perhaps you could let us have a confidential report on the members of your staff, showing how they discharge their duties?
A-Yes.
By Colonel BROWN.-Perhaps the Director of Public Works makes confidential reports at stated periods?
A-No.
By the Chairman.—Will you kindly give us such a report ?
A-Yes, I will endeavour to do so.
By Mr. MASTER.-Has anything been done with Mr. COOPER's water report? A-Quite a large amount has been done.
Q-Did he recommend additional reservoirs ?
A-He recommended the Wong-nei-chong reservoir, and that has been built.
3 Q-Did he recommend anything below Tytam or any dams above Tytam ?
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A-Yes, two reservoirs above Tytam and one, which we are now taking in hand, adjacent to the existing reservoir.
Q-In your opinion would it not be a good plan to dam up these various valleys so as to store above Tytam? It would have the effect of picking up a good deal more
water.
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A-That is part of the programme, but I am a little doubtful how far it would have been beneficial in the present case because the conditions are very exceptional. 1898, we had only 57 inches of rain; in 1899, 723; in 1900, 73; and in 1901, up to date, 54 inches. That is an abnormal succession of low rainfall years. Whether reservoirs above the existing Tytam reservoir (which would deduct from its catch- ment area) would have been full under these conditions, had they been constructed, it is somewhat difficult to say. It is clear that, as Tytam reservoir did not fill up, none of this year's rainfall would have been saved by their construction.
Q-What is the date of Mr. COOPER's report ?
A-1896.
Q-And, supposing the work had been taken in hand at once, the reservoirs could have been made in two years?
A-Yes, about that time,
* See Appendix No. 3.
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