THE INLAND ROAD FROM OTAKI TO FOXTON.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 33, 5 March 1879, Page 2

THE INLAND ROAD FROM OTAKI TO FOXTON.

We have to thank Mr. Hayns, the County Engineer, for the following items of information -with regard to the above very im-j portent work, which is now being carried on under his superintendence. At the present time the route between Otakiand Foxfconis something like 26 miles, beside 'lying along the beach, and consequently not only hard travelling for horses, but vexatious, inasmuch as the journey must be timed so as to suit the tides. By the ons now m process of formation by the County Council the distance will not only be shortened by two miles, but all likelihood of stoppages and delays by floods will be entirely obviated. It will be remembered that some time ago tenders for the work werejcalled, but they were not of such a nature as to warrant the Council m accepting them, and the matter was left m the hands of the Engineer to make whatever arrangements he should deem most advisable. This he has succetded m arranging m a most satisfactory manner, the work on the road being done by Native labor, that is, they have agreed to give the necessary land, amounting to about 150 acres, on condition of getting the contract for the work, of course at the Engineer's valuation. . Mr. Hayns intends- commencing the work at the Southern end which starts at Otaki, and takes the .road line known as the Hill Road, a9 far as the Maori Flour Mill, crosses the creek that supplies the mill with water, then strikes into the bush to meet the back line, or what eventually will be the main road from Foxton to Wellington, at or about the Paruruku clearing, &% the fool of the Pukehau. The road then sidles round several spurs that run out from Pukehau, the spurs being ascended and descended by easy grades. Before the final line was decided upon, some sixty chains of line were cut and abandoned, as being too rough and steep, that portion of the line being the roughest and steepest to he met with m the whole work. After leaving the foot or 1 the 'Pukehau, a northerly course is pursued to Waikawa, having only to make a, divergence from, a, straight line to avoid crossing- the Manakau stream moire than once, and also at Waikawa to secure a good crossing for a bridge. The land passed through is good, for although stones show, at the top, they are onjy surlace stones, and there is splendid soil underneath. The ibush, however,, is not of much worth, being principally birbh, whitewbody tawa,' and a few large rata, and rimu. There is also a great quantity of nikau palm, some growing to a great size. The tourist or traveller would be amply repaid for his trouble m climbing Pukehau by the. panorama spread out before him— the' vast extent of h usb, stretching to north . or south, with a few natural clearings, interspersed ; the Ol aki, Waikanae, and other streams winding to-, wards the sea ; the Jand toward the ocean dotted with lagoons ; the township of Osaki, and the sea, with the several wrecks on,] the beach, all tend fy> make up a natural picture which would amply repay the artist oxjthe lover of the picturesque. There can be no doubt that the. work now being prosecuted will be productive of advantageous results m more ways than one, as beside being a direct route for traffic, it will open up a. portion of the West Coast but little known, land as rich as any m the Provincial district, which will be rapidly taken up, for. settlement when placed m the market^, WHH regard to the Otaki Fwry^'Miv : intqrms.ugth.at everything has been, arranged - masent oneof the best worke)4'fe>rio§ on ibe' Coast,"' S new] canoe, - twen,ty-j& v^ht jfeet png- aads three wide having been • pwJvided. Instructions have also been gi^sn to Harveyi'the ferryman, .'to haye a pole, erected on the south side of the river, on which he will hoist : 'a flag w.heneve,r it, ; 'ip. too high'Oto be forded { beside which a. bell is to be erected on the. north side for-, passengers .to :afctract attention. In addition to all these improvements for. the benefit of/iihp public, the following innovation ;has. . been established for the benefit of -the, ferryman t A board, with, a scale of tolls.: painted thereon, is to be 1 erected, -and a ppst fixed m: the river with' a mark of floo« level; w.hen 1 the. water reaches the flood-lavel-mark, $bje ferryman can claim extra to^ap. per printed scale, '