OVERLAND TO OTAGO.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 431, 19 July 1877, Page 3

OVERLAND TO OTAGO.

The subject of opening up inland communication between Westland and Otago has been frequently discussed of late, and it is likely during the coming' sitting of Parliament that a special grant will be asked for to subsidise expenditure by the Yincent County on one side of the ranges and Westland County on the other. In describing the work required the ' Ross Guardian' on the authority of the Westland Chief Surveyor, Mr Mueller, says, that the road from Ross to Lake Wanaka, with the exception of about thirty miles, is already formed "and is ready for traffic. (From Lake Wanaka to Cromwell there i 3 a natural highway down the valley of the Upper Molyneux, giving direct connection with the main roads to Dunedih and the present railway terminus at Lawrence (Tuapeka). The blanks in the track from the Coast are between the Wanganui and Waitalii rivers and the Waitora Gorge. In detail the various links in the chain cf communication which have been constructed, as well as those which are wanting are thus described : —Commencing at ltoss a dray road has been constructed to Bowen. Bowen to half-way between the Waifcaha and Wanganui rivers, a horse track has been made. Half-way between the Waitaha and Wanganui rivers to the Gorge is in its primitive state, but a party is now out surveying it, and the track is about to be constructed by the General Government. From this Wataroa Gorge to the Okarito Forks a horse track has been constructed ; and from the Okarito there is a dray road. From Okarito to Bruce Bay the Sea .Coast is passable for horses ; aud from thence to three miles south of the Paringa a horse track has been constructed ; but a gap of 14 miles occurs, to construct which

£9OO aro in the hands of tho County Council,. but .which amount.." is not sufficient. A hoi'se track lias been made from Bullock Creek to the Beach at Ship Creak, and thence .tu the Ha&at Hirer the Sea in passable. Prom the mouth of the river to the junction of the Burke and Haayt a horse track has? been constructed bv the Weatland Government ; and ftvin the junction of tho Burke and llaast rivers aeros9 tho liaast Pass into ooen land north of tho Wanaka Lake a horse track baa been made by theOtago Government.—' Wcstport Times.'