D.—No. li».

With regard to the proposed road from Koriniti to Murimotu and Taupo, the Government await the report of your exploration with the Chief Winiata before taking any steps in the matter. I have, &c, G. S. Coopee, J. Booth, Esq., Wanganui. Under Secretary.

No. 38. Mr. Booth to Mr. Kitowxes. Sic,— Wangaaui, 25th April, 1871. I have the honor to report, with reference to the Mangawhera-Taupo Iload, that on the 14th ultimo I held a meeting at Matatera with the Ngatiapa owners of the land through which it was said a good road line might be made, Two Natives, Piripi and Neha, who said they knew the country well, wore of opinion that the best line after crossing the Wangaehu River was to follow up a stream called the Mangamahu to its source, which is close to the plains. They said an old war track went in this direction, and that it was comparatively level. These men made extravagant demands for pay to act as guides. I did not, therefore, engage them. They also spoke of compensation in case the road was carried through their land. I said I knew nothing of compensation, and certainly the Government could not say anything in the matter, being entirely in the dark as to whether a road could be made there at all. On the 17th March, having engaged Winiata, of Murimotu, as chief guide, and three other Natives to accompany the expedition, we started from Wanganui, and first explored a portion of country between TJpokongaro and Mangawhero, in order to avoid, if possible, some very deep gullies through which Mr. Field has cut his road line, and which, at this season of the year, are all but impassable for a horse without a rider. I concluded that unless we could find an easier line it would only be wasting time to lay off a road beyond that point. I am proud to be able to report that we succeeded beyond my expectation, and found a good and easy line from the Wanganui River to Mr. McGregor's farm on the Mangawhero; distance about eleven miles. After leaving McGregor's we kept in the valley of the Mangawhero for four or five miles, but have managed that the road shall avoid two of the three crossings taken by Mr. Field. At a place called Wetaweta we left Mr. .Field's line for good, and struck off up a leading gully, in a north-east direction, towards the Wangaehu River, which is about five miles distant from the Mangawhero. We found a perfectly practicable line, and an easy descent into the Wangaehu Valley, and a ford across the river which was 2 feet 6 inches deep. On the left bank of the Wangaehu is some level land covered with fern, scrub, and grass, and at the junction of the Mangamahu, two miles lower down, is a grass flat of several hundred acres. As we had been informed that the old war track went along the leading ridge on the right bank of the Mangamahu, we determined to try it. On ascending a high hill, we could see from the top of a tree that the ridge appeared to run directly to Tuhirangi, on the Murimotu Plains, at which was the place we had determined to approach the plains. We followed the ridge, therefore, for three days, but did not make much progress, on account of the density of the scrub. At the end of this time we found, much to our disappointment, that we could get no further in that direction, our progress being stopped by the watershed of the Mangamahu, which was formed of five or six deep gorges, which ran in a direction almost at right angles to our line of road. AYe had therefore to retrace our steps until we again opened up the Wangaehu Valley, from which we ascended another low, flat-topped ridge, which we had previously remarked, and in two days, after hard work cutting our way through thick scrub, we reached a conspicuous hill called Maunga-Karetu, and from thence we found, to our great satisfaction, the same ridge (changing its direction from N.E. by JE., which, it .had held from Wangaehu,°to N.N.E.,) continued unbroken until it gradually descended into the plains, at a place called Okotinga. After reaching the plains the road will continue on the left bank of the Wangaehu until it reaches the " One tapu," or desert. There are several streams running from the mountain, which have to be crossed, but they are easily forded, and all have shingly bottoms. This proposed line reaches the plains fifteen miles to the eastward of Mr. Field's line, and is conBcquently so much nearer Taupo. I estimate the distance from Wanganui to Murimotu to-be from thirty-seven to forty miles, but it is quite possible that I am mistaken, as nothing is more difficult than to estimate distances through a rough country which has no sign of a track of any kind. Our journey has been a most laborious one, owing to the nature of the country and the thick undergrowth, the season being too far advanced to burn. There is little or no large timber on the line of road, and there are no streams or gullies to cross excepting those already mentioned. There being no pigs on the ridges we ran very short of food, but persevered until we got out where we got supplies. We returned by way of Banana, having been absent from home about five weeks. In conclusion, I have the honor to request, if Government approve of this report, that an Engineer may be instructed to go with me over the line of road, on whose report the Government will be able to act. I have, &c, The Under Secretary. Public Works Department, Wellington. James Booth.

No. 39. Mr. Kkowles to Mr. Booth. Sib,— Public "Works Office, Wellington, Ist May, 1861. I do myself the honor, by direction of the Hon. Mr. Gisborne, to acknowledge the receipt of

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OF A ROAD BETWEEN WANGANUI AND TAUPO.