47

E.—3

From Square Town to opposite McHardy's Station (6J miles) is nearly all open country and flat, the chief features being two bridges having a joint length of 840 feet. The next 2 miles are also flat, but the ground lays so low that the two intervening rivers (Blackwater and Snowy Creek) are backed up from the Mawhera-iti, and flood much of the adjoining country; there is also a swamp crossed, but not of much importance. The line here will have to be kept in bank from a side cut in the near hills. The succeeding 3jt miles bring us to south bank of the Grey, and the country is flat and nearly all open, the only important feature being the Grey River, which will require 830 feet of bridging, which should be of a strong character, with wide spans to resist the floods and let the timber through. The floods are occasionally very high and rapid, and the river rises very quickly. On one occasion I travelled 50 miles down the Grey in 4J hours in a canoe, in company with trees of all shapes and sizes, and, as far as I could see, on the south side the country was under water. During this flood the Native village at Greymouth was washed away. To return to the bridge—a strong embankment will be wanted on either side, and most probably some protective works, to be safe after crossing. I have continued the railway line to the hill, which is 14 chains distant; this flat is subject to floods. The next 5 miles, to the crossing of the main road near Gilmer's Farm, are along Totara Flat, which is nearly all under cultivation, and is a dead flat with good hard ground. Here the public road goes over a terrace 110 feet high to the Ahaura, but the railway line follows round the base, keeping near in order to get material for raising the parts subject to floods ; the base of the terrace is shingle and coarse gravel, from which the required embankments can be cheaply made. It is 4 miles from the crossing of the road to the Ahaura River; the whole of this length is flat, and the only expensive feature is the crossing of the Ahaura River, which is 200 feet. The overflow ought to be filled up and protected. From the Ahaura River to Callaghan's Creek, 2\ miles, is good flat bush country ; the line skirts the base of the high terrace, taking the shortest line across the bays. From Callaghan's Creek to Nelson Creek (2f miles) the line is kept along the base of the high terrace (outside being swampy) to within half a mile of the latter creek, when the lower terrace is crossed with a heavy cutting, which will all be wanted for embankment near Nelson Creek. This creek floods from backwater from the Grey, and requires a long bridge (700 feet), but low bridging with short spans will be sufficient. From Nelson Creek to the Arnould River (6J miles) the line is flat, and skirts the hills. Near the Twelve-Mile Township the land is flooded, but only requires a low embankment to be above. The line then follows round the high terrace to the Arnould River, and crosses near the present bridge : this bridge will be 220 feet long. Between the Arnould and the point where the Upper Gorge begins (li miles) is also flat. One terrace intervenes between the Arnould and Stillwater Rivers. It is crossed with a heavy cutting, which is wanted to form the embankments near to keep above extraordinary floods. From this point to Brunnerton (about 1 mile) there is some heavy cutting along a steep siding, and one tunnel(263 yards long), to avoid the heavy retaining walls which would otherwise be required to obtain room for the road and railway. The grades throughout are easy. Ballast can be found throughout the line. The timber (principally birch) in the first 30 miles from Foxhill is small, but I think enough may be found in the neighbourhood for sleepers and bridges, though in some parts it will have to be carried a considerable distance. There is a good patch of timber at the Matakitaki, consisting of the several kinds of pine, totara, and birch. Along the Buller, the timber is birch, with occasional pine and rimu. There is a good patch of totara at the Inangahua, and patches of pine to about 8 miles up from its confluence. Above that the timber is generally birch, getting smaller up towards Reefton, and enlarging gradually down the Mawhera-iti, until at the lower part there is a good mixture of all sorts of pines, &c. Across the Grey there is another patch of totara, but the trees are small. From this point down enough timber will be found for all railway purposes. The Upper Motueka and Motupiko Valleys would contribute a good deal of traffic, and many more settlers would go there if the difficulty of getting over Spooner's Range was done away with. Between the Motupiko and the Buller the country is uninviting, and would not yield much traffic; but if the Buller Valley was traversed by a railway, every terrace would be occupied by graziers and miners, even where the land is poor, as it mostly is as far as the Mangles. There is said to be coal of good quality near the Owen River. This maybe considered the commencement of the great coal field which extends to the coast. At the Matakitaki there is a large block of good farming land, and as far as the Marina there are strips of good land on either side. A few settlers are located along the river, and they have some capital grass paddocks. A thin seam of good coal crops out in the river bed near the Marina. Between the Marina and the Lyell there is very little land in cultivation, but miners are working all the way down. For 20 miles up the Inangahua there is an extensive flat on both sides, though good land exists only in patches; but eventually the whole will be in grass, and this valley would carry a large population. A reefing country probably extends all along a parallel line about 3 miles from the centre of the valley. Antimony also is found near Reefton. Coal also shows about 4 miles up the Inangahua River. The dividing range between the Inangahua and Little Grey is rich in gold. The land in the Little Grey is flat and of very considerable width, but very poor in quality. Totara Flat is also extensive, and dotted over with several farm-houses, and the paddocks are well grassed, but the shingle is too near the surface for the soil to have much lasting quality. A parallel mining country extends all along. I think Mr. Calcutt's estimate of the quantity of flat and terrace land is correct, though I should say there is not more than 50,000 acres of really good land. The remainder could be farmed or grazed when cleared ; and, if a railway ran through, most likely would. There is but little good land between Foxhill and the Mangles; between the latter and the Newton there is a considerable amount; between B—E. 3.