while the abundance of grass and water, will enable longer drives to be made, than by any other route. I believe that there is scarcely any difference in the respective lengths of the two routes. Both from Pakhautea to Napier, being reckoned at 90 miles. I would here mention, that in 1859 I had the honor to conduct Mr. Thomas Gill the Pronvincial Engineer of Napier of Napier over the new line, by direction of His Honor the Superintendent. We came to Taupo by the new route - and returned by the ordinary Maori track. Mr. Gill was very favorably impressed with my line, and reported accordingly to the Superintendent. No survey of the country north of the Mohaka has been made - indeed the Hawkes Bay Province does not extend far north - so that it is beyond their controul. From the Mohaka northward the land is in the possession of the Maories. The Ngatimaru wahine tribe of whom Te Whetu is the present chief claim the Ripia valley but there is only one cultivation and village in the whole length - this is at Pakau tutu at the mouth of the valley. The tribe does not number forty persons. For private convenience I made a bridle track from the Mangaone junction to Puketitiri, and cut a line through the forest. For this I was subsequently remunerated by the Provincial Government of Hawkes Bay as my road was found to be of great