THE ROTORUA ROAD. Exploring Expedition.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1287, 28 September 1880, Page 2

THE ROTORUA ROAD. Exploring Expedition.

We raentiouetl in last Thursday's issue that a party cf exploration had left C<im-bridg-e on the previous day to find a writable coach rood to Rotorua, and one which would bo immediately available. The party consisted of Messrs F. D Rich, Walker, William, G<me, Turner, and Moon, on horseback, and Mr \V. K. Carter, the enterprising coach proprietor, diiving a three-horse American waggon. Feed, provisions, tent*, blankets, axes, spadea, etc., were earned by Mr Carter, the f nil intention of the party being not to leturn. uofil they hud settled the question of the existence of a practicable road to the Like district other than that vow being- undertaken by the Government. A start was made from Cambridge about half-past 9 a.m., and the route of the Constabulary load commencing at the Gorton estate was followed, noon finding the party at the Huitahataha -waterfall. Up to this point the road has been formed and was found to be in very good condition; Thence, however, a line was struck out across the open country in the desired direction, crossing the Waipa creek, and reaching "Waioraka at nightfall. The camp was pitched and a comfortable night was passed. On Thursday morning some time was spent in exploring the neighborhood, there being no track of any kind to guide the travellers. After agreeing as to the direction to be taken, the party pushed on and made about 25 miles to Tikoraugi, where they camped for the night. From this place no great difficulty would be experienced in fretting to Rotorua, as it is within, a comparatively short distance of the TaurangaRotorua road. The road has been partly formed by the natives, but a sum of money is necessary to improve parts of it, more especially the cutting at Painuihueru, which is narrow and chocked with boulders, before a coach could pass. At Tikoringi it rained heavily, and the night was in consequence not of so pleasurable a description as that previous. In the morning, moreover it was found that Mr Carter's horses had got away, and a ten or twelve mile ride had to be undertaken before they were re -captured, A start was then made for home, the party dividing into two, Mr Carter, accompanied by Mr Moon, striking for the Waitoa, the rest deciding to pass tha night a Okorire, ono of Messrs Maclean and Co. 's stations. The latter were very hospitably entertained by the manager, Captain Owen, and his good lady, and making an early start the following morning managed to reach Cambridge by 9 o'clock. Messrs Carter and Moon, the former with his waggonette, did not reach the Maori settlement without having recourse to the implements with which they had provided themselves, At one creek in particular they had literally to make the approachea necessary to ford it successfully. Al-

together during the journey about half a dozen creek* had to be made passable with the hpjp &t the spades, the horses being taken out of the waggon ia moat cases, and the vehicle conveyed across by hand. Messrs Moon and Gutter pawed the night at the Waito, their comforts being well looked after by the natives, and reached Cambridge next morning very shortly after the other members of the rxpedition. The result of the journey demonstrates, we are assured, that the road followed by the 1 party known as Moon 1 * road can be made passable to Rotorwa tfor the sym of £3,000. This would allow of a coach going through from Cambridge, easily, in a day. .This road would only- be about 10 miles longer than that known as Moss' road at present under construction by the Government at a probable cost of £40,000. Besides the enormous difference in the cost, Moon's road has I?he advantage of running entirely over open country, while Moss 1 runs through no less than 18 miles of, bush, the construction, of which to render it fit for wheeled traffic cannot well be completed for aome years to come, while the other could be made available within the space of a very few months. Nor is this all ; the bush road will take a large sum annually to keep it in repair while the other, upon completion, will be very inexpensive. What has been done on Moss' road, seeing that several bad creeks have been bridged, will doubtless prove I of service in opening upon a portion of the country not touched by the other, but regarded as a means of communication between Waikato and the Lakes, it must, it would appear, yield the palm to Moon's for many reasons, the chief among which have been noted above.