PUHIPUHI SILVER FIELD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8305, 11 July 1890, Page 3

PUHIPUHI SILVER FIELD.

THE AIR-LINE ROAD. The following is the County Engineer's report on the Air-line Road, Puhipuhi mining district, submitted to the chairman of the Whangarei County Council:— Sir,l have the honour to report herewith on the Air-line Road, which was laid out by me, and improved under my inspection, for the purpose of furnishing a short, cheap, and convenient road for the prospectors in Puhipuhi. With this object in view a route was selected which would pass through the reefing country at Wairiki to accommodate the claims there, and thence onwards to the edge of the tableland overlooking the Prospectors. Here a hotel and other places of business are in course of erection. The site is an admirable one for a township, and the position is so central that there can be little doubt but it will be the principal centre of population in Puhipuhi proper. Starting from the Great North Road, a little beyond the Whakapara bridge, the road ascends to the tableland by a grade which is tolerably easy, all except a short rise of about 1 in 7, which might be avoided by giving the road a long sweep in two places. A grade of about 1 in 12 might be thus obtained, and the road made at a cost of about £15. After ascending the tableland the grades are easy, or almost level, for a total distance of about five miles to the Wairiki. The soil on this tableland is volcanic, and the bush has been killed by fire, so the sun and wind has a chance to act on the road. Wairiki Stream.—This creek is crossed at present by a ford, which is practicable for horses nearly always, except when it is raining hard, the floods rising and falling in a few hours. It was my intention to have erected a bridge over this creek after the road was cut through. Owing, however, to a doubt as to the sufficiency of the funds, and a severe accident which disabled by assistant, Mr. Hewlett, that part of the work was postponed. The bridge was to have been made about 10 or 12 feet wide, by 35 feet long, with three kauri rickers for stringers, heart of totara slabs for covering, and the cost, even without voluntary labour, would not exceed £10. From the Wairiki onwards only one creek of any size occurs on the road ; this one, named the Kai Kiore, is spanned by a temporary ponga bridge about 20 feet long. The Comstock Range.—The road here catches the end of a range about two miles long, which runs up to the table-land. The track follows this range, avoiding the worst of the knobs ; hilt I did not try for a better grade than 1 in 9, and atone particular knob near the Sudden Jerk the grade is about 1 in 6 for a few chains. These grades were caused entirely by want of means, because 1 in 15, and even better, can be got up the range with the greatest of ease. If, however, a 1 in 15 grade had been adhered to, the track would have been a long way from the top of the range in places. The side cuttings would have been longer, and the sides of the' hills steeper lower down, thus quadrupling the expense. Besides, without clearing the bush off, the track on a better grade would have been more liable to get muddy than it is at present, which is a bold statement. The "Sudden Jerk."— range here spoken of joins the table land at a mass of solid quart/, which has the appearance of an enormous buck reef several chains wide, and known as the "Sudden Jerk." This reef rises into a brow which overlooks the whole eastern side of Puhipuhi, and commands a view far out to sea. Skirting this the road ascends to the table land. Tai;i.e Land Onwards.—For the remaining one and a-half miles the track runs nearly straight over a level volcanic flat, timbered mostly with light bush. Two small shallow creeks are crossed on this portion of the road, one with a rough bridge, the other with a ford over Hat rocks, and the track ends for the present at the new Comstock Hotel, Cowan's store. andCleary's butchery. From this point two temporary tracks lead down to the " Young Colonial' and the " Waimalia" respectively, as shown oil plan, and continue onwards to all the claims about the Pros] lectors'. General Remarks. —Any comments on my part as to the usefulness of the road would be superfluous. The manner in which it has been cut up already is conclusive proof of that. .1 am also convinced that for opening up the field no other single road would answer as well as this one, and be so cheaply constructed. The estimate herewith given would be sufficient to make the track tit for dray or coach traffic, always provided that the vehicles carried light loads during the winter months. Herewith subjoined is a statement of moneys actually received and spent on the road; also voluntary labour, and the total value ot the whole for the purpose of making the £1 for £1 application.—l am, &»., D. C. Wilson, County Engineer. estimate OK cost. The following is an estimate of works required to make the Air-line road tit for dray traffic _ £ s. d. Road through 600 cln.ins of flat country, widened to 20 feet, at 5s per chain 150 0 0 120 chains of side cutting, 16 feet wide, at £1 per chain 120 0 0 3*20 chains of green bush felled, one chain wide, at 30s per acre ... 4S 0 0 Note.—Very little kauri of value would be cut down. Bridges and culverts 50 0 0 Total 368 0 0 STATEMENT of expenditure. The following is the statement of expenditure on the Air Line Road, including subscriptions and voluntary labour :— £ s. d. Whangarei County Council ... 30 0 0 Whangarei County Council .. 6 0 0 Subscriptions from claims and private individuals up to date ... 12 3 0 Proceeds of concert in Whangarei 6 0 0 Voluntary labour furnished by 25 men, and valued at 36 3 0 Total £90 6 0 I hereby certify that the above amount of £90 6s has been expended under my inspection. 1). C. Wilson, Whangarei County Engineer.