THE NORTHERN TRUNK LINE ROUTE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7222, 23 April 1884, Page 5

THE NORTHERN TRUNK LINE ROUTE.

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, April 22.

The Hon E. Mitehelsou arrived in town yesterday from Wellington, rather unexpectedly. He was a passenger from Te Awamutu by the down train. His present visit, however, is specially interesting, as he is on a tour of inspection of the proposed railway routes between Auckland and Wellington, collecting information to be laid before Parliament during next session. With this object in view, he travelled overland to Te Awamutu, accompanied by Mr KnorppJ Civil Engineer, and a guide with pack horses. He left Wellington on Monday, April 7, and Martin’s station on the same day. His route lay along Rochfort’s line, or, as it is better known, the “ central line,” which extends along by the head waters of the Wanganui river. On Friday, April 11, the party reached Tuhurangi station, where they examined the bush country along the western side of Ruapehu. They travelled through the Murimotuand Eanghio country, and reached Te Kaanu on the night of April 12. From .there the party proceeded to Kakaramea, and thence to Maungatapu, on the western side of the burning mountain Maruhoe (commonly known as Tongariro). It may be stated that it is the direction and character of the proposed line alone with which this inspection is concerned. The Minister took observations on either side of the line; the nature of the soil, its adaptability for settlement, and the advantages presented for special industries. From Maruhoe the party proceeded to Waimarina, whence they could see right back to Tuhurangi and the Upper Wanganui country. They mounted to every accessible trig station from which an extended view was to be obtained of the surrounding country. From Waimarina they proceeded to the trig station at Hahungatiri. Here the party entered bush country, and found the land for the most-part very good. On the road from Waiinarina to the trig station, known as Puketapu, a very high hill, they met the first of the King Natives of the Wanganui country. The party slept at the settlement on Pungapunga Elver on the night 'of Tuesday, April 15. They were received with welcome, and kindly treated by the Natives. Next morning they reached Tuamarina, where the unfortunate Moffatt was mur-. dered. The party was received very kindly by all the Natives there, but. they were “troubled” about one thing. They said they were annoyed by Europeans going into Tuhua country to prospect for gold. They had heard that a man named Berry had been in the country for two or three weeks. They had sent out scouts to look for him, hut failed to discover any trace of him. At the time that Mr Mitchelsoh left the place they had hot succeeded in finding him. From Tuamarina they passed to Waimaha,-where they were welcomed and hospitably treated by the Natives. They slept at the latter place on the 17th. From there they proceeded to Te Kuiti in the Waikato “ King Country.” Here they , were received in a manner even more friendly than by the Wanganui Natives. From Te Kuiti they travelled to Kihikihi, which place they reached on Sunday last. So far as the “central line” itself is concerned, Mr Mitchelson speaks of it very favourably. He considers Mr Rochfort deserves great credit for laying it off, considering the country he had to go through. The grades are all easy, lin 80 being the steepest. As the party had to observe the features of the country that lies along the route, they were obliged to follow a somewhat zigzag route. The distance they travelled was about 600 miles. As already stated they ascended to every trig station that was at all accessible. The Minister thinks it is scarcely possible to obtain an easier line than Mr Rochfort’s which can be constructed for £SOOO a mile. The distance from Marton station on the Wellington side, to Kihikihi on the Auckland side, is 200 miles.. If this line were constructed the railway distance from Auckland to Wellington would be 480 miles. Mr Mitchelson next proceeds to inspect the Taranaki, or Western, route. The above information must be regarded as somewhat in the nature of a bird’s-eye view of the central line. Mr Mitchelson has gathered a large mass of interesting information by the way, and this will be laid before Parliament in detail, and will be accessible to the public by publication in the next Parliamentary Blue Book.