THE MOKI SADDLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1922, Page 7

THE MOKI SADDLE.

AN EASY DIVERSION. One of the chief obstacles to traffic from Tahora to Ohura, particularly in wet weather, is the Moki saddle. Mr. W. Kerr, secretary of the Tahora Settlers’ Association, pointed out to the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce delegation how this bad hill could be avoided. Beyond Tahora the line goes for a short distance down the Raekohua Valley. Three miles from Tahora the line will cross the Tangarakau River, and thence is to be continued in a general easterly direction through very broken country to the Heao Valley, where it will turn northward, ultimately reaching Ohura. Originally the railway line was intended to tap the Tangarakau Valley about two miles north of Tahora, and thence to follow the Tangarakau Gorge for about eight miles, until Paparata stream was reached, but this route has now been definitely abandoned. Mr. Kerr’s idea is that the Public Works Department should erect a bridge on the Raekahua Road, and complete the formation of five chains, which would give access to the Tangarakau township reserve, and, by completing two miles 68 chains of road, which is partly formed, the balance being of light formation, large metal deposits can be obtained within four chains of the road. Mr. P. G. Morgan, Government geologist, lias reported most favorably on the quality and extent of the metal to be obtained here. The Mokj saddle will always be a difficulty, and if a fla’ road can be secured, as Mr. Kerr sug "ests, at a minimum expenditure, it will lie a great boon, particularly when the rest of the road to the Ohura head is metalled, and traffic between the railheads is brisk, as it must become in ] near future.