THE STRATFORD ROUTE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9301, 29 January 1892, Page 2

THE STRATFORD ROUTE.

MINISTERIAL PARTY TRAVEL THROUGH. COUNTRY. ; On .Monday, January 18th, the Hon. A. J. Cadinfta (Native Minister), accompanied by Messrs Jackson Palmer (M.11.R) W M. Wilson (Engineor), P. Lawry (M.11.R ), Oliphant (member of Northern Railway League), and Cowan (Auckland jSUir reporter) left Auckland by train for To Kuiti with tho intontion of traversing the country lying between there and Stratford. To Kui'.i was reached tho same night, ond hero Mr 0. W.. Ilursthouse (engineor) joined tho party. Tho party then rode for three days, and reached a point known as - Nihoniho, 8 miles from tho point of divergence of the Stratford route from the Central. Tho horses wore then sent back, and the party tramped for six days, till tbey were met at 4 o'clock on Wednesday last by a party from Stratford, who brought 6pnro horsos with them. The two parties met on tho boundary of tho Pohukura block. The combin d parties then came by track to Stratford, whero they arrived at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday. On Thursday night a banquet was held in Muir's Hotel, at Stratford. Ono of the party informed our- representative that tho country ! from tho point of divergence to ! whero the Stmtford parly met them is jof papa formation. There are some ex-cellent-valleys, and tho hills will make fine sheep country. There is very little black birch country to be seen. The only diflii culty in tho way of making a road is a gorge at tho Tangarakau river, but- By following the stream a fairly easy grade could be got. This ( Friday) .morning Mr Cad man left for Wellington, and tho majority of tho other gentlemen comprising tho party loave for Auckland by tho OJuirTooh to-night.