OPENING THE PUKETOI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2111, 3 October 1885, Page 2

OPENING THE PUKETOI.

In compliance with a request from settlers and other land owners interested, we publish the report of Mr Bremner, County Engineer, on the best means of opening up the Puketoi country, We should have done so at the time it was laid before the Council, but could not find space for it:— I have now to lay before the Council the following report upon the proposed lines of road referred to in the resolution passed by the Council at its last sitting, relating to the opening up of the East Puketoi block. Before proceeding to describe these lines it may be as well. to give to the Council the results of my inspection as to the approximate area of. this country, which, in my opinion, will be served by roads leading in a southerly direction, and which must, from the configuration of the country, seek its outlet into the Wairarapa Valley. Taking a line following up the leading spur to tliei east of the main Puketoi range, which forms the western wat ershed of the Tiraumea river, as the western boundary of the block, and following ,up theTiraumea to its source, then following the dividing spur which separates the headwaters of the Tiraumea and Oahanga rivers, and running thence in a direction about due south to a point of contact with the Waitawhiti stream, would, in my opinion, embrace the whole area of the East Puketoi which will find its outlet in the direction before stated, These lines will embrace an area of about 16,000 acres of unsurveyed Government lands, which, for the most part, so far as I can leam, are of good quality, well watered, and covered with a dense forest of mixed timbers. For the purpose of comparing distances, and showing general directions ot routes of lines, I have attached a plan upon which I have marked 'the different roads referred to in the report, Starting from Masterton as a zero point, and following up the Te Ore Ore to Bideford road, I have marked the distances from that town of several fixed points throughout the entire length of its extension, until a point near the junction of the Tiraumea and Waitawhiti streams (marked by a red cross) is reached. Any scheme of roads for opening up the South-eastern Puketoi, must, in my opinion, 'concentrate on this point, and would, of necessity, have its main line up the valley of the Tiraumea, Of the first two sections of this line, i.e., from Masterton to miles, thence to 17 miles, the road is formed, and the rivers and creeks are bridged with substantial works, and of the first section about miles are metalled. The gradients, generally speaking are pood ana suitable for the purposes of heavy traffic, With the exception of about 4| miles of the line (in what is known as the Upper Taueru bush), the line can be metalled without tcreafc difficulty or expense. Tlie information which is in my possession at present with reference to the metalling of this bush section, would lead me to suppose that the works would be of an expensive character, but if tlie country were properly explored, this might prove to be the contrary, The country served by this section of the lino is of superior quality, and much of it is suitable for agricultural purposes. Four important branch lines close onto this section of the road at various points, the first, being a loop line between the Te Ore Ore-Bideford and the Masterton to Waimata road to the east; the second, a branch to the west up the Mangarae Valley, tapping the southern portion of theßangitumau Block; the third and fourth at 17 miles, the third branching to the east, serving the property of Mr Miller and the unsold Government lands in the locality, the fourth leading up the valleys of the Wainuioinapu and Wairere streams in a northerly direction. From 17 to 29 miles the line is very direct in its course, following up the valley of the Taueru river. The pradientsare gradual and easy throughout, and the country, generally speaking, exceptionally favorable for the construction of roads. Metal of a good class is , procurable at about two mile distances along the line, and the lateral sections of the ground are favorable to its economical construction. There are only two branch lines which form junctions with this section, that following up the valley of the Makirikiri stream at about chainage 21 miles, and serving a small area of country to the east, and that line known as the Castle Hill route, serving a small area to the west and closing at 29 miles. From Makirikiri to 29 miles the valley is much contracted, the watershed closing in from both sides. The country along the section is already sold and occupied, and is principally open, covered with ti-tree scrub and fern. The quality of the land from 17 to 21 miles is fairly good, but of poor quality from 21 to 29 miles and suitable only for grazing purposes. Between 29 and the line continues in a direct northerly course for about half its distance until it strikes the south side of the range forming the southern watershed of the Waitawhiti stream, thence it takes a north-easterly direction to the junction of the Tiraumea and Waitawhiti streams. The country here is less favorable than the last section, the ground being more irregular and the sidings more broken, but the gradients, nevertheless, are equally good. Metal although procurable, is less convenient that on other parts of the line. No branch lines, that lam aware of, can be located on this section of the line, as the hills on either side are abrupt and the valleys of no great extent. This finisW the Te Ore Ore-Bidefore extention to the common point at the junction, to the south of East Puketoi. Generally speaking I am disposed to regard the country along its route as being well adapted for road formation purposes, and as being comparatively inexpensive in the matter of future maintenance. The route to within miles of its termination point is exceptionally direct in its course, as will be seen by reference to the attached map.

Whangaehu route.—Prom Masterton to miles being common to both roads. 1 will commence from the latter point and follow up the valley to 12 miles. This section traverses through bush country, and is formed for its entire length, and will be opened for traffic to Masterton during the approaching summer, The line may be described as passing through easy country, the valley beingopenand the gradients being gradual I in their ascent for long stretches at a time. The lands on both sides are settled, and for most part are oocupied and improved, Ths quality of the land is decidedly good, but owing to the more or less broken and confused state of the spurs and gullies, would not be suitable except for grazing purposes. For the purpose of road making the country cannot be described aa favorable, owing to the loose rotten nature of the surface when the bush has been cleared, and the absolute absence of metal in the locality. From 12 to 18 miles, the line and character of the country generally are muoli the same as the seotion just described. The lands abutting on the road are for tho most part sold, and in one or two instances are occupied and improved. No formation worth recording has as yet been undertaken, and this, coupled with the fact that a large proportion of the best of the country has until recently been in the hands of Wellington speculators, no doubt, in a large measure accounts for the want of resident settlers on the ground. Two branch, lines of considerable importance join on to the line from the east, opening up and serving the

West Rangitumau block. Upon the whole of the Whangaehu Valley road, as well as upon the branch lines, the • bush has been felled and cleared for a width of one chain. This work was carried out by the Provincial Government ten years ago, but the lines are now much overgrown with young vegetation. Metal is equally scarce on this sestion as on the one further south. At 18i mileß a branch, line of miles in length connects the valley with the main Forty-Mile Bush road and district railway system. From 18J to 27 miles the line traverses on up the valley of the Whangaehu river to near its source, thence, crossing over the water-shed, follows down one of the branch streams into the valley of the Ihurawa creek. The country is of an easy nature, and considerable stretches of flats are traversed by the road. For bush country the formation works are of an easy character The western water-shed along the valley is comparatively abrupt, and of no great extent, while to the east a, considerable extent of country will be tapped by a branch line known as No; 3 cross road. The quality of the land generally Breaking is of a superior character, and suitable,in some instances for' agricultural as well as pastoral purposes. The forest is of a mixed variety, and in patches freely interspersed with totara. So far as I am personally aware, and from what I can hear from others who have a better knowledge of the country than myself, metal is unknown in the locality. From 2? to 34| the line passes through open country, and a considerable portion of it is formed. The crossing of the Ihurawa is bridged, and a contract lias been entered into for spanning the Te Hoi, a little further on, Several branch lines connect with the main line between the termini of the section, the most important of which is what is known as the Alfredton District road, tapping the whole of the country in the centre of Alfredton. Cuttings into and out of the Tiraumea river have been made, and will probably answer the requirements of settlers for a few years yet, An advantageous deviation of the line may possibly be effected, by which one of the crossings of the river may be shifted further up, where it is less formidable, and which' would enable a branch line to be pushed into the centre of South Puketoi, making its lunction with the main line near Mr Saunders' homestead. The country along this section is of good quality, and much of it could be utilised for agricultural pursuits. The gradients are well located, and of an easy character. The facilities for metalling are fairly good throughout the section. From 34£ to 38J miles the country is of a most broken character, and the formation works would bo of a more expensive class. The gradients are, however, good, and meta] is reasonably handy throughout. As I before observed, a deviation which would carry the line 011 to the opposite side of the river would materially reduce the cost of construction, as well as straighten the general direction of the road, The land abutting along the section is of mixed bush, hills, and clear flats of fairly good quality. The gradients are broken and irregular, but 011 the whole are fairly easy, Having carefully examined into and weighed the matter submitted to me to report upon, 1 have decided to make the following recommendation for the consideration of the Council;—" That the natural outlet, for the country lying to the north and north-east ef the Tiraumea river, known as the Puketoi East, will be by a line of road which will follow down the valley of the Tiraumea river till it touches section No, 195, thence up the valley of the Ihurawa creek, and crossing its watershed into the head of the Whangaehu valley, thence following down the valley and .through the Dreyer's rock road, will. connect with the Wellington and Napier railway at the Mauriceville station." I select this route in preference to the Eketahuna to Alfredton one, on account of the much greater evenness of the gradients on the Whangaehu valley line, as well as the saving of several miles of distance by rail. In the matter of metal, I am of opinion that the one can be gravelled for much the same cost as the other, but that the wear and tear on the Eketahuna route would be infinitely greater than 0 n the other lines, where the gradients are of a much less severe nature, and where the draught will be proportionately lighter. In conclusion, I have to regret that lie time placed at my disposal for fur nishing this report has been so short in consideration of the amount of informatigii which it has been necessary to gather, that I have not been able to place mo r e minute details before the Council wit h reference to areas served by the different lines, as well as to approximate cost oft he various classes of work, 1 have, &c., C. E. Bremner.