A RIDE FROM TE AROHA TO TAURANGA VIA THE NEW BRIDLE TRACK.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XII, Issue 1525, 28 April 1883, Page 2

A RIDE FROM TE AROHA TO TAURANGA VIA THE NEW BRIDLE TRACK.

(FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.)

(Ctntinucd from orir last.) The road pursues its devious course through gullies, across creeks, along shelves cut in the face of perpendicular rocky precipices, ever rising at on easy grade, never more than 1 in 14, hut generally less. Half a mile past the site of the second and last camp a cliff is reached, two hundred feet of a sheer drop, called Morton's Horror, because our companion informed us

there was an old sea captain working on the road who would never approach within a quarter of a mile of it for fear of falling over, and who woke in the middle of every night with a yell that he was falling into "space. Etc also told us that the gentleman who had parted company with his ,eye fell ovdr this cliff (verily there" is no rest for the wicked ; those that have been exalted shall tumble down). Here we felt constrained to remark that it was only with, the greatest reluctance that we cast aspersions on any one's veracity, but in this instance wo felt the conviction gradually stealing over us that some people were slightly given to exaggeration, present company, of course, excepted. He then hastened to explain that when the fall took place the face of the precipice beneath us was clothed with trees and other verdure to within 50 feet of where we ; tood, but that the weight of stone thrown over during the construction of the road had since carried them away, and left the bare rock. Still he admitted that it was a nasty jar, but that ill weeds take much killing, so oar friend turned up again, with a patch of mud on his bad eye, and a slight wound on his shoulder. After passing the cliff we were more than half way to the top which we soon reached. Here we were shown a large clearing made by Government, from which we obtained a magnificent view ; during our ascent we had some nice views through the trees, but nothing to this. Looking back we could see the Thames Valley lying like a map beneath us, intersected with silver streaks of drains and rivers and roads, and dotted with smiling farms and busy townships. Twenty miles away was Morrrhsville, and away to the right Wairongamai, immediately below Mr Craig's farm^ beyond Shaftesbury (Grant and Foster's township), to the left Matamata, and in the bush about 500 feet below is a beautiful little lake, in which the natives say enormous eels are to be caught. Facing about, the sparkling waters of the Bay of Plenty, with its island gems was visible as far as Maketu, between which and our point of vantage the eye scanned over 1 the white houses of Tauranga, the rivers, bays, and estuaries between it and Katikati shining like molten silver in the noonday sun, and then the special settlement of Katikati itself. I might here mention that the highest point of the road is 1,700 ft above sea level, but where we stood, some three chains to the north-west, it was some 200 ft higher. It was half-an-hour before we had drunk-in this splendid prospect (no insinuations, now, there was not anything else to drink), and then we tore ourselves away from the char-ning picture, and resumed our journey, with the difference that it was now all down-hill instead of up. In passing the party now engaged in forming the Katikati side of the track, we were astonished at the difference between the two sides as regards work; the side we had left was nearly all hard rock and high cuttings, while this was all low cuttings with soft rock. This party expected to finish also in a few days. We parted with our friend of the black eyes at the end of foe bush, and trotted on to the Junction Hotel (a distance of three miles) where we arrived at 12.30 p.m., five hours from Te Aroha, including all stoppages. On arrival we were met by the landlord, Mr A. H. Clarke, who vouched the pleasing information that we were just in time for dinner; so, while we went upstairs and washed our hands, he had our horses attended to and fed. At 1 o'clock we sat down, and did abundant justice to a good, plain dinner. After the inner man was satisfied, we had a smoke and a rest until 2 o'clock, when we started for Tauranga, arriving at Meuzies' in time for tea, having come fvom Te Aroha to Tauranga in 10 hours, including all stoppages, The Katikati bridle-track Is now Bft wide, and ehould be widened to j 18ft. It is possible, even now, to i drive a buggy with a quiet horao. iAVTiBtW the Piako County Oounoil will push on the warfc of wldoning? is doubtful. All tliei* interests appoa* to lie in retai'diuu the work, and malting tiommunioatioii botweon Katikati and Te Aroha a difficult matter for dray or coach. The present grades are excellent, and the only work required is the widening. This fact our Council should keep before their neighbours. We could not help wondering how ever a road with such easy grades could be laid off through such rough country.