A SHORT CUT TO AUCKLAND.

Waipawa Mail, Volume VI, Issue 680, 19 August 1884, Page 4

A SHORT CUT TO AUCKLAND.

[ Wairoa Guardian. J Looking at a map of the North Island, a traveller at Wairoa or Gisborne desirous of going overland to Auckland, or intermediate places, must naturally wonder why such a long detour has to be made as is involved in the journey by the road 1 round by . or even by Maungaharura to a lesser extent, when there appears to be a short cut through the Uriwera Country from Waikare Moana via Huatahuna. The explanation, however, is easily given. In former times when the natives were less amenable to law and order than they are in these days, the European settlers were debarred from passing through many inland districts of this island, through the hostility of the native inhabitants, and consequently had to adopt the safer and more accessible, though in many cases long and roundabout, tracks by the coast, or elsewhere. The Uriwera Country may be considered as a good illustration. Until within the last few years this tract of forest-clad mountains, inhabited by a wild and pakeha-hating Maori tribe, was looked upon as a perfect terra incognita , by both Europeans and natives alike; but during the last hostilities it was scoured from end to end by the Government forces, in quest of Te Kooti, and now, being fairly known, is no longer dreaded as of yore. The progress of settlement on this coast, and the increase of traffic render necessary the opening up of the shortest and most direct means of communication between the East

Coast settlements and the larger centres of population in the North Island. The continuation of the Waikare Moana Hoad through to Huatahuna, and on to the clear country bordering the Rangitaiki River, would we believe, be an important step in this direction. A short and direct route like the one here advocated, would be an inestimable boon to persons in the Wairoa and Cook counties, having occasion to drive stock from those localities to the Auckland market, as well as to others proceeding North overland. It would be a great saving in time and distance, consequently in money ; besides which, it would be the shortest route for connecting this part of the East Coast with the Bay of Plenty. Mr Large, who had been over most of this country previously, took particular notice of it during his late trip from Wairoa to Huatahuna, thence through to Taupo, with a view to noticing its adaptability for the construction of a good bridle track, or stock driving road, and he is convinced that one could be found without difficulty. Starting from Frasertown as a centre, the road is made to Waikare Moana, a distance of 30 miles From Onepoto it would be continued by following round the south eastern shore of the lake to Whanganui-a-parua, at the end of the inlet; thence trending in a north ■westerly direction away from Waikare Moana, and crossing the Huiarau range by a low saddle much to the eastward of the present track ; thence following down the Huatahuna Creek to its junction with the Whakatane River, a short distance above Matatua j this would be about 25 miles from Waikare Moana. Thence crossing the Whakatane at Huatahuna and proceeding in a north westerly direction by way of Pukareao and the Horomango Gorge, the clear country on the Hangitaike now takes the place of the bush, and crossing the latter river Galatea is reached ; a distance of about 35 miles from Huatahuna. There is another route from the latter place to Galatea, by way of Ahikerereu and the Whirinaki River (a branch of the Rangitaiki), but it is some miles longer. Galatea is a centre from which good roads radiate in all directions ; one proceeds east by way of Te Teko to Matata, on the shores of the Bay of Plenty ; about 50 miles distant. Another wevst to Taupo across the Kaingaroa Plains, about the same distance ; while a very fair dray road, 45 miles long, goes to Ohinernutu, the centre of the Rotorua Hot Lake District, passing Rotomahana and Rato Kakahi en route. This latter road is the natural continuation of the line we are advocating, for from Ohinemutu roads proceed direct via, Waikato to Auckland; to Tauranga ; to the Thames ; and to other places : besides, which the completion, of the Waikato Rotorua railway will bring Ohinemutu into direct communication with Auckland by rail. In round numbers the distance from Wairoa to Ohinemutu by the line under discussion is 135 miles, of this distance 75 miles have already been formed, leaving only about 60 to be constructed. The great superiority of the above line as a short and direct; outlet to the north will be seen when we mention that from Wairoa to Rotorua by way of Maungaharuru and Taupo, the distance is 185 miles, while by way of Petane it would be about 215 miles. In fact the advantages of this road are so great and manifest, that it must ultimately become the highway from this part of the East Coast to the centre of the North Island, and we hope the Government will be induced to have the line of route thoroughly explored before loug, with a view to having this important means of communication laid off and constructed as soon as circumstances will permit.