The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1867. THE KARAMEA.

Mr. Groom's Report to the Provincial Engineer. Sir — In accordance with instructions received from you, I proceeded to the Baton with the object of discovering a ready means of access, by pass or otherwise, from the eastern to the western side of Mount Arthur range, and thence to the bend of the Karamea, flowing to the westward. Arriving at the store on the Baton river, I took a survey of the surrounding country from several bare hill summits, to ascertain the best possible means of reaching the ridge to the south of the highest elevation of Mount Arthur. From these observations, I concluded that the ridge which separates the maiu stream of the Baton from its tributary, the Skeet, was the easiest to ascend. Early the following morning, my companion and myself commenced our travels s first up the Baton for a few miles, then along the ridge to the summit of the range at a point about six miles to the southward of Mount Arthur. A dense fog obscuring our view, we were led more to the southward than it was necessary to travel ; but this was of service in settling the question of the impracticability of forming a road in this direction, even should a pass or low saddle exist ; as there are several intervening ridges from the main range, taking a south and southwesterly course. The mountain range itself exhibits sufficient proof that no road could be formed either by sidling or by going along the ridge, which is but a narrow space, frequently not more than a few feet wide, with an inclination on both sides so steep for hundreds of feet that it is with the utmost difficulty and at great peril that a pedestrian can scramble along. Where a precipitous rock prevents clambering over, and a sidling course must be taken to get beyond it, the greatest care is required ; both hands are employed in grasping firmly the grass, scrub, or rock, in order to get safely round. Travelling in this manner for two days, a low saddle was discovered, which appeared well adapted for a road, the gradient on each side of the saddle being about one in three, with plenty of space for sidling. The valley on the Karamea side of this depression runs for about four miles in a south-westerly course, then westerly. The river through this valley does not flow directly to the bend of the Karamea, we therefore passed this saddle in search of a better one. Two other low parts o,f the mountain ridge might be made available to connect this valley with the Baton. Continuing our course northward along the range, another saddle was reached by which there could be made an easy communication from the eastern to the western side of the rauge. The valley on the west stretches from the base of the plateau at the back, or north-west of Mount Arthur, to the bend of the Karamea, flowing westward. Another low saddle lying contiguous to the ascent to the highest peaks of Mount Arthur, is continuous with the same valley and the Baton. The second of these saddles from the foot of the ascent, to the peaks, and on the south of them, appears best adapted to take a road over. From this point the bend of the Karamea lies due west by compass, and is apparently about five or six miles distant. No ridge presenting itself by which a straight course might be takeu to the Karamea, we travelled directly for the bend of the Karamea ; but having to pass over a good deal of broken country, we abandoned it for the first water course, ' which proved to be a dry one, the passage along which was much obstructed by large masses of limestone. Following this we came to the Karamea, about a mile and a half above the turn to westward. This distance was soon performed along a line of road already cut on the right bank of the river. At the bend a small river^ •which I have named the Leslie, empties itself. The course of this river is northeasterly.

The readiest means of return appeared to be along the Leslie, for . several miles, and then by taking a south-easterly course, reach the low saddle whence we started. There is a creek running into the Leslie on the left bank, about four miles from the Karamea. By following this the low land at the foot of the range is reached. Through part of the bush we have blazed a line, but, owing to an insufficient supply of provisions, we were compelled to hasten on without completing it. From the Leslie to the low saddle the distance is about three miles. The bnsh on the Karamea side is generally open. Again arising at the low saddle of the Mount Arthur range, we niade a descent to the Baton. For about half a mile the purface consists of grass and low scrub. The uext mile and a half is covered by a densely matted scrub. Two miles from the saddle the large timber grows. There is a continuation of bush to within half a mile of the store on the Eaton, which is on open ground. The upper part of the Baton in the bush, runs through a succession of gorges for about six miles. From the store on the Baton to the saddle, is about eight miles. From my observations I concluded that the best road that can be made between the store and the Baton and the Karamea, will be along either bank of the Baton River to its source, terminating near the low saddle described above ; thence in a direct line to the Leslie lying northeast by compass, and then continuing the road along the left bank of the Leslie to its juuction with the Karamea, where it will join the track already made. By this route a good horse track could be formed. There would, besides the clearing of the bush, require some side-cutting more particularly aloDg the Baton. To reduce the gradient for half a mile up to the saddle from the Baton, and for nearly a mile on the west of the saddle, there would x-equire a little sidling and side-cut-ting. The gradient on either side of the saddle is about one in three, which might be reduced to one in six, or even less. The entire length of road required, would be about 16 miles. The cost for cutting the bush and clearing a track of six feet wide, might be about £20 per mile. There would be about four miles of side-cutting in the whole distance, price varying according to its character. I had a good view of the back or northwest of Mount Arthur, from two elevations, one in the same plane with it, viz., from the main ridge of Mount Arthur. The other view was from a much higher elevatioD, and nearer. These downs chiefly comprise bush, with open land of apparently scanty herbage. The open country is small in extent, compared with the bush growing thereou. There is an inclination from the west to the north-east. The track in course of formation across this table-land will be of greater length than the one proposed above to the Karamea, from any line of road at present existing. The descent from the plain will be to the Leslie, as no ready means of reaching the Karamea can be found by any other route. All the spurs to the south of the plateau dip into the valley of the Leslie. The shortest distance to which such a line can be brought off the plain will intersect the Leslie, or some of its feeders, about nine miles from the bend of the Karamea. I am, &c, W. Groom. 9th April, 1867.