THE WAIPA AND RAGLAN ROAD.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1192, 17 February 1880, Page 2

THE WAIPA AND RAG LAN ROAD.

Mr Breakell C.E. returned from an inspection of the Waipa and Rtglan road yesterday. The only real difficulty at present existing between Hamilton and Raglan is the crossing the Waipa river at Whatawhata. As it is the punt at present used is too smaU altogether, taking but one horse at a time, and wheu the old punt formerly used at Hamilton is fixed there the approaches will need considerable alteration. The sum of iM,OOO will be ample however to p-ovide a bridge every way suitable. Once over the river the* road to th^ foot of the range U tolerably good until the Mungakowhia bridge is reached which is in a very dangerous condition. Soiae of the gradients on the range are somewhat steep but it is scarcely practicable we learn to reduce them, still they are not such but that, a | air of horses can very well manage to surmount then with a fair luad ; {he bends are sharp also and this renders skilful driving necessary as to go over th« edge of these sidings means a sudden drop of from 80 t.i 100 feet. A lew slips here and there require attention and embankm nts need repairing where the culverts being too small the water has burst over the channels and washed the earthworks away. These require immediate attention. The Waitetuna creek is the extreme limit to which th 9 uork done by Maori labour reached, and from thence to Raglan the road will tequire a considerab c amount of expenditure upon it, to make it even as good as that constructed over the ranges. Unfortunately the Highway Boards are not able to do :his. The- homestead selectors are urging th9m to the construction of cross roads necessary for settlement, and to do both is utterly beyond their power. As it is the local board has let a contract for the ropair of a bridge over the Matokotia on this road which will prevent them doing more than merely perform ordinary repairs for at least *\ couple of years to come. It is to be hoped the Government will relieve them by forming the road and making the necsssary cuttings all the way to Raglan or grant the Board a subsidy to enable them to do it. When these improvements to which we have referred are effected Raglan will be brought within a four and a-half-hour's riiie of Waikato. Another and a very important result will be the opening up of a district which posSr>BBtt3 many valuable mineral resources. Od his trip Mr Breake I saw coal, limestone, and ironstone the latter in great abundance. About ihree hours journey from SuttonV theie are on the right arm of the Waingnroa river some celebrated hot sulphur springs of all temperatures from hike w^rrn to boiling hedt. The roal to these would need two small bridges osting not m>re than thirty shillings each to render it easy for horse traffic The lund on which these springs are situated belongs to the native-, but European vi itors would be hear'ily welcomed.