THE ROTORUA ROAD.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1356, 10 March 1881, Page 2

THE ROTORUA ROAD.

The new route between Cambridge and the Hot Springs country is now getting well advanced towards completion, and from what we have heard will greatly facilitate the through traffic. Mr George Laitnill, a French gentleman connected with the Melbourne Exhibition, who has been making a mirried trip through New Zealand recently, made the journey to and fro by this route, and he has kindly communicated to us the following particulars :—": — " Being greatly pressed for ; time, and acting on the advice of Mr Raynes, of the National Hotel, Cambridge, I selected the new road which is just now in course of completion. The first fifteen miles, as far as the Okoriri Station, is in excellent condition, and can he driven over at an ordinarily rapid pace. The ten following miles to Tapapa is rougher ; still it can be got over in a buggy. Beyond that the journey muati be done in the saddle. An hour's ride takes the traveller over the four succeeding hills, beyond which he enters I upon eighteen miles of a bush track. The Government surveyor is at present eni gaged cutting a bridle path through the bush, which will be completed in the course of a week or so. Two miles of this route' is at present very rough travelling ; but when the track is completed, the route will be greatly improved. In the neighbourhood of this place our tourist came upon a Maori camp, from which he Obtained the assistance of a guide, by whom he was safely piloted to Rotorua. The through journey occupied 14^ hours, the journey back being accomplished in 13 hours. The scenery throughout is described as magnificent, and our informant speaks of the route as one which is likely to be preferred by tourists in preference to the more round-about passage via Tauranga. Mr Laimill is the first tourist, we are told, who has travelled by this road."