ROAD-MAKING IN THE NORTH ISLAND.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2545, 14 April 1871, Page 2

ROAD-MAKING IN THE NORTH ISLAND.

The - Wellington Independent, in its last summary for England, supplies the folloM’. ing information; As wc have no military expeditions to report. it may be well to no to down at some lenglh the works now In progress iu the North Island. These are first, the road from Wan:anui to Taranaki, about 15.(1 Uidca long, running thro,ugh the country formerly occupied by rebel t l ’il )e3 i and from a great part of which the Europeans wore driven in I'SGS by Titqkowaru. The settlers are now re-occupying it, and the advancing tide of settlement is marked by great improvements which meet the eye of travellers by this new route. Some of this road-work is being done, by parties of natives now “friendlies,” but lately hostile rebels. Some of it is carried on by the armed constabulary and militia,, ami is rapidly, and we believe, permanently effecting the conquest of peace. Considerable progress has been already made, and Cobb and Co.’s coach now runs on this line twice a week. As far as possible this and all the other roads under construction are selected on linos which hereafter can be converted into railways at comparatively little cost, until which time they are available for coach and cart traffic. The second road is from Napier to Taupo,

100 miles in length. Thi* work is also earned on partly by Friendly Natives, partly by constabulary, n»d portly (the bridges especially) by Eur poan contractors. It is far advanced towards completion, traversing country lately hold by the most hostile tribes and is rapidly promoting settlement. This will form part of a great trunk, and probably railway, line from Wellington to Auckland via Napier. The third lino is from Napier to Foxton, at the month of the Manawatu River on the West Coast, 150 miles in length. The Provincial Government of Napier have already made it from 50 to 00 miles, from Napier then a portion of about 40 miles in length has been made by the General Government, under the superintendence of the Government Agent (Mr Ormmd), the remaining fifty miles through the Wauawatu Gorge being under construction by settlers, J'riemily Natives, and the recently landed Norwegians, under Mr -Stewart, C.E. It is being vigorously pushed on, and when finished will dovetail in with, and bo a. part of the great trunk lines from Wellington to Napier, and and Wellington to Taranaki. The fourth road is from Lake Tanpo to Tanranga, 100 miles in length. This work is being carried on under the superintendence of Mr Henry Clarke, the Uc-ideiit Magistrate, the bridges beuig contrae cd for by Europeans, and the rest of the work being executed by the Friendly Natives and the constabulary. This road runs through the country described by Dr Hochstetter in his geology of New Zealand as “ the lake district, so famous for its boiling springs, its steaming fumaroles, solfataras, and its bubbling mud-basins, or as the natives call them, the Ngawhas and Puns. Till now, none but missionaries, Government officers, and some few tourists have ventured by the narrow Maori paths, through bush and swamp, to visit this marvellous region ; but all who have witnessed with their own eyes the wonders of nature displayed here were transported with amazement and dedght. Only the natives bavc hitherto made practical use of these springs, which are the grandest in the world, and sought relief for their various complaints and diseases. But when once, with the progressive cultivation (colonisation ?) of New Zealand, these parts have become accessible, then thousands dwelling in the various countries of the Southern Hemisphere., in Australia, Tasmania, or New Z - aland, will flock to these parts, where nature not only exhibits such remarkable phenomena in the loveliest district, with the best and most genial climate, but has also created such an. extraordinary number of healing springs.” We hope the doctor’s prophecy will be verified before long. The fifth work is more of a military character than any of the former, being the opening up of horse tracks between Opotiki, in the Bay of .Plenty, and Lake Waikarernoana, in the TJrewera Cou try, thus sapping the strongholds of that once powerful, but now scattered tribe. In addition to these works in progress, may be noticed the surveys for railways, orderel by last Parliament, from Wellington to Napier and Taranaki, through the Seventymile Bush, now being carried on by Mr Koehfort, who has discovered new routes over what has hitherto been considered an almost impassable country, opening up an immense extent of fertile land, well wooded and well watered.