THE TALE CONTINUED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 3084, 26 March 1892, Page 2

THE TALE CONTINUED.

The Mangatoe flows through a fearful gorge, the track to it has been cut out of the papa rook, and is merely a ledge on tbe Bide of a precipitous cliff, which towers in many places hundreds of feet above the nairow track, whilst the river flows almost as many feet below. At places the tracks appear to overhang the chasm, and it is much more conducive to Bafety and peace of mind to look at tbe cliff above tban to tbe river below. And yet incredible and absurd as it must appear this " wheelbarrow " track leads to a bridge, nearly six chains long, erected across this gorge, which could not have cost Isbs than £1500. On tbe other side the track is equally high from the river, but it takes a long zigzag course, which is necessary to reach the higher elevation on that side. At present it is difficult aod dangerous to get a horse with a wide pack on to this bridge. How on earth it will ever become possible to take a dray on to it is past my comprehension. Tbe proposed railway line is close to this bridge. I am at a greater loss to know how the train is ever to cross the gorge unless a viaduct is made nearly a quarter of a mile in length. A few miles further on we came to another expensive bridge over the Mangawhero. This one is also wide enough for cart traffic, and must have cost fully £'500. I anticipate tbat these structures will be rotten before a road suitable for wheel traffic will be made.