ROAD GOSSIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 498, 30 October 1928, Page 7

ROAD GOSSIP

THROUGH BAY OF PLENTY—PAEROA, TAURANGA, WHAKATANE AND OPOTIKI A DISTANCE OF 174 MILES

BY “IWANTA” lor variety of scenery this trip offers everything except mountain climbing, as the highest point attained does not exceed 400 ft. -Leaving the Thames-Pokeno Road a few miles past Waitakaruru, a fourmile straight run along a good road, brings the traveller to Ngatea. On through Netherton is now all metalled, and the material used on this particular stretch of road is the finest class of metal that I have ever seen and, kept graded, this would almost equal a tarred surface. As this will no doubt become a very popular route, something will have to be done with the railway crossing entering Paeroa. PAEROA TO WAIHI After leaving Paeroa, the road almost immediately enters the wonderful, but apparently little known, Karangahake Gorge, and at this time of the year, with its waterfalls of all sizes and descriptions, tumbling down everywhere. is a grand sight. Gold mining is being revived here at some of the bid works, no doubt due to the later scientic methods in treating the ore, making it a paying proposition. The road surface is very rough, and one can’t help but wonder why this should be so, as the metal is handy, though roadmen are conspicuous by their absence. This state of affairs is apt to mar the pleasure of the drive through. There is another railway crossing at Waikino, and after leaving here the rock formations are weird and wonderful. Out of the Gorge the road is still very bumpy, and besides another railway crossing, there are two nasty turns where the road passes underneath railway bridges. A little improvement

here to give motorists a clearer vision would bo much appreciated. It seems strange that in the Southern part of the Island, all these kind of things are receiving attention, but here these things aro allowed to go on. WAIHI TO TAURANGA After leaving Waihi, the road gently ascends, and the surface improves slightly. The road soon joins (and follows round with) the railway, through quite a pretty little Gorge, now popping over and next under the railway, providing many picnic and lunch spots, altogether making this a very pleasant and interesting drive on to Katikati. From Katikati the road still follows on with the railway, crossing and passing underneath it several times, but now the metalled road gives way to stretches of mud track. At the present time these stretches are in a shocking condition. The unmetalled part consists of several stretches, and it is difficult to understand why parts have been metalled and others left. How long it is going to take to complete these broken stretches, is hard to say, but in the meantime, at very little expense, a grader would keep this in fairly decent order. The metalled stretch on to Tauranga is in quite good order, and is very pretty driving over undulating country. TAURANGA TO MATATA From Tauranga to within a few miles of Te Puke, is in a shocking state for a main road, and it is quite time that the Highway Board took this stretch over and put it in order. This road is in even worse condition than it was years ago.

The interesting sights along- this road are the numerous old Maori fortifications seen along the many hilltops. Leaving Te Puke, the first few miles, on through Kaituna Pa, are in quite good order. After passing the Rotorua junction there is a bad railway crossing, and after Pongakawa is reached, the unmetalled road is again met with and continues on to Otamarakau, but the surface is in fairly good order, no doubt due to the use of graders. The road now follows along the sea with the railway—one or two creek crossings—and the road surface, though mostly metalled, is in a shockingly bad state on to Matata. Thus from Paeroa to Matata is one of the worst main highways south of Auckland, and with the exception of the newly-metalled stretches is surely not receiving its share of the new petrol tax, or the money is not being wisely spent, as graders could cure most of the trouble. MATATA TO WHAKATANE After leaving Matata, the road still follows along with the sea, and the road surface is all that is to be desired. White Island, which is at present very active, may be seen sending its steam clouds to the skies. It is here that the traveller gets a near view of Whale Island, while inland a very fine view may be had of Mount Edgecumbe. In the various streams crossed from

here to Thornton, whitebait are plentiful at the present time. To Wliakatane the road surface is in quite good order. WHAKATANE TO OPOTIKI Leaving Wliakatane along a good road, the railway is soon crossed per bridge into Taneatua, and the road next enters the beautiful Waimana Gorge. This is the one spot that the tired business man should keep in mind for a holiday. Some lovely camp sites here, also bathing and good trout fishing, with watercress in abundance. After leaving the Gorge the road continues along over undulating country, through Nukuhou—splendid surface —and still another pretty little gorge with ideal camping and picnic spots before Kutarere is reached. This is where Te Kooti died, but where his remains lie is a secret, as his tribe were afraid that his enemies might steal the body. From Kutarere the road soon follows the Waiotahi River to the sea, and the two or three miles of driving along the sea coast, through a regular avenue of pohutukawas makes this a very enjoyable finish to what will be a wonderful trip when the road is metalled right through. Next the Waioeka Bridge, a very fine concrete structure, is crossed into Opotiki.