Over the Ranges.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 141, 26 May 1892, Page 3

Over the Ranges.

(from our makaretu correspondent.) A meeting was held at the Makaretu schoolhouse on the 16th, ostensibly to hear a lecture on the volcanic districts by Mr Hill, but really to discuss the possibility of a road from Makaretu over tbe 1 ranges to. Apiti and Feilding. The affair ] seems to have been mismanaged some- { how, as no discussion took place, and nothing practical was done. It is gener- „ ally supposed that the settlers will attempt * something later on. I may as well just J outline the geography of the country this side. There are three townships or settle- ( ments close under the Euahine Bange. i Taken in order, Bladeburn is tbe most northerly, then comes Makaretu, and Ashley Clinton. Makaretu is just opposite the saddle hetween the Oroua and Pohangina Gorges. It is hoped that a road or track could be made by going up the Tuki Tuki this side, and coming down on your side between the Oroua and Pohangina Kivers. Mr Hill thinks the road should cross the ranges more towards the north, and come down between the Oroua and Rangitikei, so getting into Barton's track. This would enable stock to be taken over from Hawke's Bay much more quickly than by the present route which is round by Woodville. As to the distance, I have a map called the " Meridional Circuit of Wanganui," price Is, which I got from the Wellington ABsißtant-Surveyor-General, Mr Baker. It shows all the rivers and some roads. The distance is apparently 21 miles from | Apiti to Makaretu in a straight line. No one knows what the height of the lowest ] saddle is . (