REPORT OF THE CHIEF SUR

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1834, 22 June 1874, Page 2

REPORT OF THE CHIEF SUR-

VEYOR ON PROPOSED HORSE-

TRACKS FROM WELSHMAN'S TO STONY' CREEK, AND NEMONA TO CAMERON'S.

Chief Surveyor's Office, Hokitika, June 15, 1874.

Sir, — I have the honor to report upon proposed track from Welshman's to Limestone, Brandy Point, and Stony Creek, and from Nemona to Cameron's, as follows : —

The petition of the inhabitants of the New River District, praying that a pack track as above, be constructed, sets forth its length at about one mile and threequarters. The actual length— see plans A and B— is 2 miles 79 chains, and the probable expense of constructing a 4ft. metalled pack track along the surveyed line is L9OO.

The track from Marsden road to Moa Flat, a distance of about 48 chains will be difficult of construction. It passes through very heavily-timbered land, and metal cannot be found. From Moa Flat to Brandy Point, length 94 chains, will be of easy constiuction ; while from Brandy Point to Stony Creek, the difficulty of getting suitable metal will have again to be contended with.

The present population along this line of road amounts to nineteen miners distributed as follows : — At and near Moa Flat, 2 ; at Livingstone Flat, 4 ; at Brandy Jack's, 1 ; at Brandy Point, 1 ; at Hunter's Flat, 1 ; between Hunter's Flat and Stony Creek. 4 ; and at Stony Creek, 4.

The line from Nemona to Cameron's — see plans C and D attached — traverses ground very favorable for horse track construction, with this exception however ; that in two instances the grade will be as steep as ]in 10. Good metal is to be had ail along, and for a distance of about a quarter of a mile a little levelling of tailings only is required to make it a good horse-track.

The number of miners located along the line of track is also very small. They number seventeen, and are distributed as follows : — At and near Petersburgh Creek, 4 , at Sullivan's Creek, 6 ; at and nsar Cameron's, 7. The total distance of the track is three miles, and the estimated cost of construction is L 720.

For the purpose of showing the relative position of the roads and tracks already constructed to those described above, I attach plan, &c.

I have, &c, Gerhard Mueller, To his Honor the Superintendent.