THE UREWERA TRACK

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 138, 7 March 1929, Page 10

THE UREWERA TRACK

GREAT MOTOR ROAD READY NEXT YEAR GLORIOUS FOREST ROUTE ) If the same steady progress as hitherto continues to be made in the next few months, the great motor road which is being constructed through the Urewera Country from Rotorua to Waikaremoana Hotel will be complete and ready for use in little more than a year’s time. It will be one of the most magnificent scenic drives in the Dominion, through miles of primeval forest, one of the remaining few which have not been spoiled, in the onward march of progress. Mr. A. H. Messenger, head of the New Zealand Government Publicity Department, has just returned to Wellington after an absence of about ten days, in the course of which he traversed the Urewera track on horseback, accompanied by a youthful Maori who knows the track well. This is a district in which the Maori prophet Rua lives, and for many years was regarded as more or less unknown country. Lady Alice Fergusson recently rode over the track with Mr. Alf. Warbrick, the wellknown guide at Tarawera, and found the country most fascinating. The route is quite passable on horseback, and no doubt many more riders will go through before it gives way to the new motor road. On the journey Mr. Messenger received valuable assistance from the officer in charge of the . Public Works camp on the shores of Lake Waikaremoana. Setting out from the lake for the road through the dense forest, for the first part they were on the road being made by the Public Works Department, which is eventually to traverse the forest, coming out at the Native village of Maungapohatu. From there the road crosses the Kaingarra and Galatea plains, when it strikes the track through Urewera, which is being surveyed for the road. The country there is very grand, consisting of high peaks, bush-clad to the summits. In fact, the whole country is under heavy forest, with pretty streams and rivers running in all directions. Bird life, Including native pigeons, kakas, tuis, and bell-birds, is abundant and interesting. It was Interesting to come across the roadmen’s camp reminiscent of the conditions which were faced in the old pioneering days, tents on the edge of the forest, cooks at the galleys, and all the activities attendant upon roadmaking. Several Maoris were met along the track taking stores through to the road camp. Forest dwellers as they are, they were very cheeful, happy-go-lucky people, always ready to have a word with the pakeha as they met him. It was an experience difficult to get in these days of modern roads and modern travel. The Native village is situated on an old clearing in the forest, where evidently Native cultivation has been carried on for a number of years. On leaving the village one plunges into the forest once more, following the rough road which, in little more than a year, will become one of the great scenic roads of the Dominion, and will ultimately extend from Rotorua to the Waikaremoana Hotel. The track follows the ridges, and at times travellers can look into gorges 200 to 300 feet deep with almost-perpendicular slopes. Beyond they gain glimpses of forestclad ranges and peaks, a magnificent picture. These slopes are mostly covered with ’ beech, or birch, as they used to be called. There Is not much usable timber, and. it is considered better to retain the old bush and preserve it for its scenic beauty, especially as it is one of the few remaining forests. It is proposed to <build a new accommodation house at the Native village of Maungapohatu in place of the present one, which is proving too limited for requirements. ’