will be heavy; the hills being so exceedingly steep; the west side of the valley will be kept the whole length. At a distance of three miles from the Mohaka, the Makiekie creek joins the Ripia, a bridge will here be necessary and for the next fifteen miles, will lie entirely through the Tawai forest and winding round all the spurs a chain or so above flood mark. This portion will of course be very circuitous, owing to the great length of the spurs, which are deeply interlocked, though perfectly free from precipices. As soon as the belt of forest is passed through, which occurs at the base of a spur called "Te Matai", the valley is grassy and open to its source at Marua nui - occasionally side cuttings in the Pumice stone cliffs will be necessary but these are few and far between - a few small creeks must be bridged - and stone is plentiful in the valley. In the upper portion of the valley - there is a singular rent and the solid stone/formation where the rivers flow underground and travellers cross on a natural arch of rock called "Te ara mahutahuta": on arriving at Marua nui hill, the road no longer requires forming but a straight course across the plain for three miles, brings you to Pahautea bush where the present track is regained. Thus you will see that by taking this route several material advantages are gained.