A.—No. 17,

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE

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keeping the party supplied with provisions, particularly when taken in connection with the immensenumber of wild pigs and birds along the line, and the abundance of eels in the Mangawhero river. We can, however, talk over this and any other matter connected with the work when we meet. I have, &c., IT. C. Field, Engineer in charge of the Mangawhero-Taupo W. Buller, Esq., E.M., Wanganui. Road Party.

No. 59. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Cooper to Mr. Swainson. Colonial Defence Office, Wellington, Sir,— 26th March, 1870. By direction of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, I beg to refer you to a reduced copy of your sketch map of Lower Taupo, Kaimanawa and Eangitikei, showing- the route of the Wanganui Union Company's exploring party, and the printed cojjies of reports by yourself and Messrs. Field and Hogg upon roads in that district. As it appears desirable that the information on the subject of roads now being prepared for Parliament should be as clear as possible, the reports by yourself, Mr. Field, and Mr. Hogg, with your plan, should be so full and distinct as to enable the Government to point out the best line of road, and any other information that an exploration of the country should supply. Will you, therefore,"be good enough to mark on the sketch now enclosed, in carmine, the line from Major Marshall's to Messrs. Birch's station, described in your report addressed to the Hon. Colonial Secretary, dated 29th January, 1870, and to say if you explored a line from Pakihiwi to Taupo, and if so, to mark that as well in carmine upon the sketch now referred to you, at the same time informing me if you reported upon the latter mentioned line, and whether that report was transmitted to the Government. The line referred to by Mr. Hogg should be marked in blue ; and if it is in your power, after reading the report by Mr. Field, to make your plan still fuller by such additions, in colour or otherwise, as you may think fit, I shall feel obliged. If the names of the rivers where they reach the •sea, and their courses in firm blue lines were distinctly marked, the reports could be read with greater facility by strangers to the district; and still further help would be afforded if the highest point between the West Coast and Taupo were shown, with the water-sheds in different colours, pale yet distinct, so as Jiot to interfere with other natural features. I have. &c, G. H. Cooper, G. F. Swainson, Esq., Eangitikei. Acting Under Secretary.

No. GO. Copy of a Letter from Mr. Swainson to Mr. Cooper. Tutu-Totara, Eatigitikei, Sir,— 14th May, 1870. I have the honor, in compliance with your letter of 26th March, 1870, to return the map of the Lower TaupO, Kaimanawa, and Ilangitikei Districts, referred therewith to me, and have, in accordance with your request, marked in distinguishing colours my own route in company with Mr. Hogg, and also the general course of Mr. Hogg's return track by Turakina. With reference to the road from Pakihiwi to Taupo, I beg to inform yon that no special report was made by me thereon. Our route was by the general native track, which, with a few trifling deviations, requires little alteration. It is through an open though rather broken country, passing through only one small piece of bush (about twenty chains) at the Turangarere Falls, on the Hautapu. It falls into Mr. Hogg's proposed road a mile or two North of Ohautupaka, thence through the Kangipo Plain, until the Wai-hohonu is reached, a stream running in a rather deep ravine, which completely divides the Northern base of Ruajiehu from the Southern base of the Tongariro group. The Wai-hohonu is the first of a series of similar gullies whose streams run. into the Waikato, cutting across the track at intervals of about -J, ■}-, or 1 mile, until within three or four miles of Poutu. They offer no great impediment—simple side-cuttings only are required ; a little bush is generally found at the bottom, but the sides are quite open. From Poutu to Tokanu, the road skirts the base of Piluinga, and requires only a few small bridges or culverts. The highest point of elevation between the Bangitikei boundary line and the Northern and Southern watershed line at the sources of the Wangaehu and Waikato, is the Whukanae main hill, presenting, from a distance the appearance of a long flat table-top ; 2nd in point of elevation is the Otairi, and 3rd liangatira, all presenting the same appearance. I regret that, from the extreme vagueness (at least in my opinion), of Mr. Field's report, I am unable to make any additions to the map in that direction. I believe he intends to emerge from the bush nt Kereoi. In conclusion, I would beg to record my opinion that, of the three lines, that of Mr. Hogg, by * Vide Papers—Beports on the Practicability of Constructing a Hoad from Wan»anui to Taupo. A»o. 5.—1870.