A.—No. 17

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS IN THE NORTH ISLAND.

TARANAKI.

No. 1. Copy of a Letter from Mr. T. Kelly, M.G.A., to the Hon. D. M'Lean. Sir, — Wellington, September 4, 1869. In accordance with your request, I have the honor to enclose a Memorandum, in reference to the constmction of roads in the Province of Taranaki, which appear to me to be desirable to provide for defence of the settlements, and to extend the occupation and cultivation of the country. As the construction of roads into the interior is one great feature of the policy of the present Government, I have no doubt that no unnecessary time will be lost before the preliminary steps are taken to initiate this great and impoitant work. Had one-tenth of the money which has been wasted on unproductive Native wars been employed in the construction of roads penetrating the fastnesses of the interior, the disaster which the Colony has suffered during the past year would have been rendered impossible. I hope that we are entering on a new era as regards our dealings with the Native race, and while ever ready to punish aggression by means of organized forces, that we will depend more on the pick and shovel to conquer and hold the country. I have, <fee., The Hon. the Defence Minister, Thomas Kelly. Wellington.

The Construction of Roads necessary for Military Purposes and the Extension or Settlement in the Province of Taraxaki. Patea to Waihi — twenty-Jive miles. The road from Patea to Waihi, a distance of twenty-live miles, requires but little outlay to make it fairly passable, if bridges are made over the Tangalioe and Manawapou Rivers, with the addition of side cutting to make the approaches easy. Simple lattice bridges, such as have recently been in the course of construction in the New Plymouth district, if built on j)iles of heart of matai or totara, would last with little repairs for many years, at a cost not exceeding .£5 per foot forward on roadway. Before the disturbances occurred at Patea the Provincial Government had sections taken of both rivers with a view of bridging them, the General Government at that time being inclined to contribute to the cost, which was estimated at .£I,OOO. No ford can be found on the main lino as laid down on the map, as the liver bottoms and the banks consist of a soft clay, which soon cuts up and renders dray traffic impossible. Const lioad, Waihi to Stony River — -fifty miles. Stony River to New Plymouth — twenty miles. The coast line from Wailii to the nearest New Plymouth settlement at the Stony River is from fifty to sixty miles, and could be made practical for ordinary dray traffic at a comparatively small expense. I venture to state that .£1,500 would be sufficient for the piupose if the Natives living along the line could be induced to take the work on contract, when laid out by a competent road surveyor. The road from thence to the town of New Plymouth, twenty miles, is made, and the rivers bridged. Mountain Road, Waihi to Mataitawa — -forty miles. The construction of a line of road through the forest in the rear of Mount Egmont, from Waihi to Mataitawa, is of importance as a military woi-k, as, if constructed, it would cut off from the interior the disaffected Taranaki tribes under Te Witi. This line would be about forty miles in length, of which thirty-five would be through dense forest. Before the construction of this line was commenced, it would be desirable that the country should be well explored by a competent surveyor, as such a proceeding would tend to greatly reduce the expenditure, and result in the production of a better road. It is often found, in laying off roads in the forest, that if great care is not exercised by the surveyor,, unnecessarily steep gradients have to be used. This is especially the case around the base of Mount Egmont, as the land is cut deep by numerous rivers ; and great care is required in selecting crossing places to avoid steep banks, which involve heavy cuttings to make a passable road. The forest should be felled for a width of two chains, and a track cleared, free from logs and stumps, a width of twenty feet. According to the cost by contract of similar work at New Plymouth, this could be done for about £60 per mile, and to make the necessary cuttings, culverts, and fords, would take about .£4O, making a total cost of XIOO per mile for a rough dray road through forest land. Waitara to White Cliffs — twenty miles. The coast road from Waitara to the White Cliffs, in the direction of Mokau, requires a small