WAIKAREMOANA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1663, 1 February 1906, Page 3

WAIKAREMOANA.

THE ROAD FROM GISBORNE. A SUBJECT DEMANDING ATTENTION.

Mr W Douglas Lysnar having returned from Wailcaremoana a couplo of days ago, a Times representative obtained from him much interesting information regarding tho trip and his observations in connection therewith, especially in regard to the roads. Tho present routo is via Tiniroto and Frasertown, a distanco of 111 miles. Were the journey possiblo via Haugaroa tho distanco would only bo 72 miles, and as woll as the shortening of the distance the easier grades would greatly facilitate travelling. To throw tho shorter distanco open for traffic, Mr Lysnar found that tho road from the Lake to the dray road at Hangaroa is, for the first thirteon miles this side, formed into a dray road; thon it is continued by a six-foot track to Hangaroa.

, “ I travelled along this road for about thirteen miles from the Lake,” said Mr Lysnar, “Just to see its condition, and I found that it is a wollmade dray road, with good bridges and culverts. I only saw one bridge —I might more properly call it a.culvert—that was not the full width. For tho first eight or ton miles after one leaves the Lake the road is practically a level one. The formation is of the nature of dry, brown pumice, which will stand considerable traffic without being metalled.”

I Questioned as to the cost of completing the road for wheel traffic, Mr | Lysnar said that he had enquired into the matter, and had been authoritatively informed that if the Government spent a small sum they could complete the road from Gisborne to the Lakes for wheel traffic, with a good grade of 1 in 25 up to 1 in 40. Not only would this line of road be of great advantage to Gisborne ; it would be of far greater benefit to Wairoa than the present line. Few people go from Gisborne to Waikaremoana now, on account of the distance, which is made worse by the heavy pull up from tho Wairoa side. With the direct line

of road completed there would he a great number of people go from Gisborne who never think of doing so under present conditions and the larger proportion would make the round trip via Wairoa and Morere Hot Springs, thus being able to travel on an easy grade to the Lakes, then downhill the whole way to Wairoa, along the magnificent Waikare Taiheke river scenery, viewing magnificent waterfalls with which the famous Huka rapids offer no comparison. These are the rapids .from which it is suggested Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne snould he supplied with power for generating electricity for lighting and motive power. There is a fall of about 2000 ft from the Lake to Frasertown, and those having a knowledge of driving will understand what a difference in the journey it would make between having to travel up from Wairoa and having the option of simply going down that way. In the main Lake there is splendid fishing, with a large number of swans and ducks sporting about, while in the Waikare Taheke the trout will rise to the fly.

Continuing, Mr Lysnar explained that on the point where the Gisborne road strikes the Lake there is a dray road continued around the Lake practically to the end of it towards Rotorua for some 18 miles. All the bridges and culverts are erected, and one can see hero and there, well up in the bush above the Lake the formed road and bridges. This portion of the road is in a very bad state through slips,' there having been no repairs done to it since the workmen were knocked off about four years ago. He was told that there were then over 200 men working at the road, and nothing had been done since, until recently. The caretaker of the Lake Mouse told tho Government that if they gave him £l5O he would clear the slips and open the road for wheel traffic for about 18 miles towards Gisborne, so that tourists could drive along and return to the Lake House, as there is some beautiful scenery and falls to bo seen aloDg the road. This offer was not accepted, but one man has recently been put on, and he is now working in solitude on the road. There is, said Mr Lysnar, a total of 45 miles of completed dray road, and about 15 miles of a six-foot bridle-track in this locality with fine bridges, not being used except by the Ureweranatives, just for the want of about 15 miles of road being widened for wheel traffic on the Gisborne side and about 17 miles from the Lake towards Rotorua to connect with the Rotorua coach road, which now comes to within 17 miles of the Lake and where the present dray road stops. “ I ought to have mentioned.” added Mr Lysnar, “that the Government have a few natives employed in extending the formation on the road from Rotorua towards the Lake. The completion of this work would at once open a very serviceable stock route for the Auckland market.”

Questioned as to the special advan- j tages to bo obtained from opening up j the road, Mr Lysnar said: “The ad- ( vantages to be gained by opening up ( this small piece of road on the Gis- ; borne side would bo that it would bring the Lake within 72 miles of Gisborne, instead of 111 as at present, not only that, you would have a very much better graded road to negotiate, as is apparent by the fact that in the last 30 miles of road from Wairoa sido.in approaching the Lake you have to rise 2000 foot. When the small portion referred to is done it will make the 1 finest tourist drive possible, and which : would make Gisborne the starting and ’ ending point, and take in Wairoa as well. Tourists would leave Gisborne and go direct to the Lake ; then go to Wairoa, on to the Morere Hot Springs, and back to Gisborne, no portion of the road having to be travelled twice." “Do you think this would affect Wairoa in any way . . -*-r 11 • 1 r T 11 1L 1,1

“Yes,” said Mr Lysnar, “it would in a way that would bo of very great benefit to them, and I am sure that when they understand the position tho proposal will have their warm sup» port. At present few people travel from Gisborne to Waikaromoana, and it is greatly to Wairoa’s interest to encourage them to do so. With the direct road from Gisborne completed it is pretty certain that out of any 100 people going from Gisborne, 80 of them would be sure to go to Wairoa and have the advantage of travelling down tho steop WaikareTaiheke road, viewing the beautiful Wairoa rivor. People who do not go at all under present conditions would willingly make the round trip if they could go up on the direct line. When people once realised the grandeur and beauty of the tour, the Lake House would soon | kavo to be quadrupled in size to accommodate the holiday soekers, foi j we have near at hand one of the fines! i holiday resorts in New Zoaland.”

“ How would your proposal fit it with the movement in Waikato to wards having road communicatioi with Gisborne ? ” “ Admirably,” replied Mr Lysnai “ It is the very thing they are askini for, There is every reason to oxpoc

hearty support from Waikato in tho matter. If, say,a stock track were made from tho Lako to tho present Rotorua coach road, a distanco of only 17 milos, wo have at ouco a good stock routo to Auckland aud Waikato; tho stock trade proper keeps well away from tho Lake road, which has roally to ho mado, as I understand tho formation stops at tho back of Okaluitia, and from there on tho scrub and bush has only boon cleared along tho road lino without any formation, whioh will require a large expondituro of money upon it to make it available for stock.”