NAPIER, TAUPO, AND AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 103, 10 September 1859, Page 3

NAPIER, TAUPO, AND AUCKLAND.

We have been requested by the writer of the following letter to give it publicity, with the view of eliciting further expression of opinion upon a subject so important : — Waipuna, August 16, 1859. Sir, — I beg to inform you that I have completed a bridle track from Mr. Anderson's homestead at Pekapeka as far as Waipuna. The distance is sixteen miles. The object I have in addressing you, is to submit for your opinion the most direct line to connect Taupo and Auckland witli the district of Napier. I presume the two chief points to be guarded against are rivers and hills. You are perhaps aware, that there are three native tracks to Taupo from the Napier district, — one by Okavva and Kohurau on the north bank of the Ngaruroro, as far as Kuri-papango ford ; thence on the south bank of the river to Patea and the south west of Taupo. Another, (the present mail track) by Petane, Titiokura, and Tarewera, to Pahautea on Ktiingaroa plain. The third, on the south bank of the Tutaekuri by the Mangaone junction, through the valley of the Mangaone to Patoka, thence to Pukititiri, crossing the Mohaka at Pahaututu, thence to Pahaute. Of these three tracks, the first (toPatea) is very circuitous and hilly, and crosses the Ngaruroro at a precipitous spot. It is too circuitous for the main line to Auckland. The second passes over all the steep ranges on the west side of the harbour, as far as Petane, thence over the high range at Titiokura, and thence across all the precipitous hills in the Tarawera block. This road is also very circuitous. The third and last entirely avoids all the high ranges just meutioned and is far more direct. It. follows the south bank of the-, Tutaekuri to the junction of .the Mangaone, jCrSssing. both riyei'sj once'; thence following the west .bank of the latter* ■: as far as Patoka hill, round whicn! it winds,;. (fory me'Hy'it passed over the^Tummit,) for a distance of 2875 yards, theh'pe^apross the Miraiaroa plain to the low saddlefat VOru, thence across the Puketitiri flats, through the bush on the west side of Hukamei, along -the'banks . of the, Ani^artuia creek to its " junction -with the Ma' ah u, thence . along the banks of the latter to Rangikapua; crossing, the Mohaka opposite to Paraweranui, near Pakaututu, thence byte Tula to the Makiekie

creek, (a branch of the Mohaka,) thence ascending to, the Whakarukaru, through the Matai busb^ jijience over Mahungatoroa" to^Tepapaotengahue, |lience 'crossing theTlripiacr-^J'to Mavuanui hill, whence it emerges at Pahaut'ea and joins the present moil -track.' • • .(- i The first mentioned of these tracks being 'bo' very oircuit'ous^ I apprehend that it will never be used as a road to Auckland. ' As regards the 'second, there appear to he several objections, considering it isK&Aunklandroad, First. Supposing a short cut to be made to Petane. The difficulty of crossing horses and stock at the mouth of the harbour at all seasons, independently of the circuit to travellers from Pakowhai, and southward. - Second. ThPperambulation, of the harbour ranges from the native reserves 3tt Wharerangi.to Petane, and the increased distjance thereby ; thfii Titiokura hill, and the^broken mountainous Tera;-? ■wera ranges. TKfr'distance from port to the Moliaka by this road being about 52 miles ; from Pakowhai about 49. (Of course, these remarks do not apply to the present road from Petane to Titiokura, as a roadfor the residents in the Petane valley, and the back settlers.) , vV - „-=•' „': :" ' Viewing.l|i)fowhaTslas the future centre of the Napier District, I take that spot as a starting point;. .. MJSproposed road first traverses 1* miles of „cfry> alluvial tsoil ; then 5 miles of dry gravelly table fiats; then 10 miles of gentle undulating sandy and gravelly hills, with occasional patches of clay 5 then 4 miles of dry peafcy soil; then 3 miles of sandy peat, intermixed with, clay,* and small boggy creeks ; then 2 miles of bush j then a dry stony descent to the Mohakn. The distance from Pakowhai to the Mohaka by this road being about 43 miles. There are no rivers or high hills on the whole line between Mangaone and Mohaka. The country on "the NojlEth side of the Mohaka is far less hiljy thanj f the present Terawera track. "It isaisb considerably si«M£er to Pahaiitea,. but - the respective distances of these two roads I am not at present prepared to state with accuracy. •* On the whole I think a far better and. shorter road from Napier and Pakowhai can be made, and at less expense, by my proposed road than by any other ; and I feel convinced it will prove the most useful to the community at large. I have the honor to be ,&c, J. B. EM-MAN. , iljPd His Honor the '■■' Superintendent.