Correspondence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 48, 30 May 1863, Page 3

Correspondence.

THE OVERLAND ROUTE TO THE GREY, via AMURI. TO THE EDITOB OP THE c NEISON ExAMINEB"' Sib — I was rather surprised to see an unsigned letter in your issue of the 16th instant, casting undue reflections on the shoulders of those who found and opened the first and only (as yet) communication with the Grey for Btock, and which your correspondent seems to have availed himself of. He evidently knows nothing of the case he has discussed, and I should say has not been accustomed to travelling in any other description of country than the open, where natural roads exist.

I must premise by saying that the communication was considered good, and the first thing wanted was to cut a good open 12 ft. lino through, without doing much earthwork. This was accomplished, and as well done, and as much work done, too, as the number of men employed could possibly do in the time. Much of the bush was actually cut during rain and sleet (in the winter) for many consecutive days. It was not attempted, neither would it have been judicious, to make an expensive road in the first instance, as, after a communication is once established, a great many improvements can be effected, and stores for use of a road party easily transported.

Our work commenced at the end of the open country up the Waiau-ua, about ten miles from the saddle (instead of at the saddle, as your correspondent erroneously states), crossing which, it follows down the Ahaura to a few miles below Kaupiri, where it enters a long bush on a high terrace which forms the gorge of the Ahaura, crossing four gullies, where no earthwork was done, because it was not necessary until the said bush was mado passable for horses by corduroy or draining.

The length of road opened in the above manner by us was fifty-five to sixty miles, nearly all bush, the amount of work in simply cutting through the saddle can be feelingly described by Mr. Freeth if he likes, as I had the pleasure of travelling through it with him before the road was cut. The number of men employed on one part was eight, for about two months (part of whom were occasionally disengaged for swagging), canoes had to be built, and stores conveyed in them about fifty miles ; on another occasion four, with my brother (two of whom were almost constantly packing), for about three months. I cannot speak exactly as to time, having no memorandum here concerning that work. I can only further add that your correspondent's idea of a deep and dangerous river is rather a comical one, was, in the whole ten days travelling between the saddle and Tutaikuri, I do not believe you can find a place over your knees ; wherever the road crosses it is certainly not half way n P- . .

I inclose tho extract to which my last paragraph refers, and can only add my opinion that, instead of the few hours, &c, of your informant, it would take the number of men, who have been working under the direction of my brother and myself, two years more to make the road according to his wishes. I am sir, yours obediently, John Eochfobt. Wangapeka, May 25, 1863. [EXTBACT.] " On descending the saddle and striking the Ahaura river, we found it flowing very rapidly over an exceedingly rough bed, aud the manner in which the water increased in volume surprised me much : it quickly became a very troublesome river to cross. The road now, if road it could be called, was execrable ; the sole object of the person who made it having been to form a track on which it was thought sheep might get along, and, as the object apparently was to do this at the least possible expense, the river bed has been left as the highway for a great part of the distance, forcing persons to cross this dangerous river several time 3 a day, when a few hours' labour would have made a track along its Bides. As it was, the heating the sheep got was frightful, and had they not been remarkably strong they could never have got through.

" Our rate of travelling was now reduced to at most a mile and a-half a day, and this was only accomplished with the greatest possible labour, as the sheep, from crossing the river so often, could not without difficulty be got to look at the water, and they had in many instances to be carried or dragged through the stream. Ten days of this description of travelling brought us to the Tutaikuri, a large river flowing from the south, which here joins the Ahaura."

A letter from Poland describes the uniform of the Polish insurgents as follows : — They wear a close fitting coat called a gunke, quite plain, without either buttons or frogs, and made of coarse brown cloth, grey trousers, a wide leather belt, a square cap, amaranth turned up with black. They carry a doublebarrelled gun slung over the shoulders, a revolver stuck in the belt, and a small bag for bread, &c. The cavalry are dressed in the same manner, and armed with lances bearing the Polish colours, red and white. The flags of the insurgents have on one side the white eagle of Poland and the white hone of Lithuania ; on the other, the portrait of Our Lady of Czentocban, with the legend, "For our liberty and yours,"