THE ROADS AND THE MILITARY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 30, 23 January 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE ROADS AND THE MILITARY.

We have been supplied with the following facts regarding the new military encampments and the great south road, by a gentlemen who recently travelled through the district: — There are four large camps, and one small camp, formed. The first of these is at Drury; the second, two miles beyond; the third five miles past Drury and the fourth large camp is on Mr. Austin’s farm at Maungatawhiri, within half a mile of the native bush. There is a small encampment oue mile bo-

yon cl the Razor-buck hill, but not so near the native territory as that on Mr. Austin’s property. Two parties of military are employed breaking metal for the roads, while other parties are at work felling bush, nuking cuttings, and filling hollows on the line laid out from Drury to Maungatawhiri. The work has been done in very superior style. If the military metal the road which they are now forming they will finish 11- miles in continuation of the road from Drury to the Waikato river, thus completing an agreeable carriage way of 40 miles almost as the crow (lies from Auckland to the limit of the crown lands in that district.

Mr. Walters is also finishing liis contract of making t lie road from Havelock township to the river, which he was compelled to discontinue some months ago by the direct ion of the late general government because the natives objected to the formation of the road on crown land any farther in the direction of the Waikato. It is probable that this line may also be metalled by the military ; and if so (lie township of Havelock must shortly assume increased importance. The work for which Mr. Wallers contracted with the provincial government will bo finished in about a fortnight and then the Waikato district may bo opened for traffic with the city of Auckland fora hundred miles, if a steamer of light draft, say 15 or 18 inches, similar to those in use in Egypt and Canada for inland navigation, were placed on the river. This will be a work of time, however, although it may be relised much earlier than many sanguine people now anticipate. The produce now derived from the Waikato will be increased five-fold, for it costs nearly as much at present to bring wheat thence toWaiukuas it is worth in the Auckland market.

Sir George Grey has intimated that he will make the road from Waiuku to Wairoa; and also open the tramway that is already laid out, two chains wide, from Waikato to the Pakington township on the Manku, which would connect the Waikato with Onohunga. The tram-way starts from below Tuakau, and crossing the Pnni and Waiuku blocks terminates at deep water in the Mauku river. Thus a fertile and hitherto unavailable district would be thrown open to the settlers for cultivation and a market would be at once secured for their produce. The advantage of these routes over the line of water transit the natives now frequent will be more apparent, when it is stated that it often takes the .Maoris three days to cross from the Waikato to Purapura, up the Avaroa crock. When water is scarce they are compelled to dam it up, and wait until sufficient has been collected to float their canoes.

The natives seem favourably inclined towards the soldiers at present, because they are making very considerable profit dealing with them. The roads enable them to bring their pigs to camp, in selhing which at a high figure they experience little difficulty. Vv'c hope nothing may occur to mar the present harmony. The camp at Mr. Austin's farm seems, in the opinion of our informant, to have been ill planned as it is in a hollow, close to two deep gullies, covered by dense bush, and where ambushes might bo laid to surprise the troops in the event of hostilities. One gully is in front, and the other is at the rear. 'This is a military question on which, however, wc express no opinion. —Southern Cross.