OVERLAND ROUTE FROM AUCKLAND TO AHURIRI.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume I, Issue 9, 21 November 1857, Page 3

OVERLAND ROUTE FROM AUCKLAND TO AHURIRI.

An excellent report upon this, and other inland routes, by Mr. Serancke, Surveyor to the Land Purchase Department, has just been. published in the General Government Gazette. Mr. Serancke thus writes, by way of introduction : — " From the fact of my not being in possession of any sketch of the principal and most important road — viz., that from Auckland to Otawhao — I have not been able to enter into any details respecting it. "I am the first person who succeeded in travelling over the road from Otawhao to Petane, near Ahuriri, with horses. This journey was undertaken for no special purpose, otherwise than to assist in opening a road through that part of the country ; in doing which, we made bridges across upwards of twenty swamps, and cleared a bridle path through fourteen miles of bush. This work was performed in the depth of winter, without the assistance of natives, and frequently with but a scanty supply of provisions. The old track having in many places become overgrown and obliterated, it became necessary to mark it out afresh ; in some of the steep ascents, fallen timber had to be removed, and declivities sloped down to enable the horses to proceed. Since that time several mounted parties have safely performed the journey. "There are many parts of this road which might be much improved by a slight deviation from the present track ; the numerous creeks and swamps too, are, in my opinion, less formidable than the approaches to them."