125

Continuation of Comparative Statement, &c.

No. 1.

No. 2.

No. 3.

necessary to construct or render such a work durable.

It may fairly be assumed that a highway such as that under consideration would extend its influence the Awaroa swamp, and need hence the value of arable land over 12,000 acres of equally good Government land, within the average distance of two miles on either side of it.

The line No. 1 is very favourably situated in this respect. Passing through the middle of the Waikuku block, it would confer immediate benefit on no less than 26,000 acres of the best land, the native title to all of which has been extinguished.

Compared with the route in the third column, this line will show that this line possesses advantages similar to ten miles a gain on not the least intricate part of the Waikato; and four miles more to vessels on the Manukau. In effect, it would decrease the distance by water between Auckland and the south about 14 miles.

The length of No. 1 is 11 ½ miles. Estimated cost, £16,400.

Length of No. 2, 7 ¼ miles. Estimated cost £11,700.

Ditto of Tram Road in continuation 1 ½ miles.

Cost of canal £185,000.

Ditto 1 ½ miles tram road in continuation, included.

It will be seen by the preceding that Line No. 1 has very great advantages over either of the others, and we recommend it to be adopted in preference to that via the Awaroa for the following reasons—

1. For the superiority of its Termini.

The Southern districts, in every direction but one, are so circumscribed by natural boundaries, presenting impediments to transit in a greater or less degree, that the Waikuku block is evidently the channel of all others, through which their import and export trade must be conducted; and the known fertility and extent of those districts are such, that taken in conjunction with the fact of their being on the eve of settlement by Europeans, there can be no doubt that the most eligible line through Waikuku, will at no distant period be the greatest inland tributary to the commerce of Auckland. It is equally clear that the trade through this channel will give rise to towns of no small importance, and that therefore appropriate sites for these in conjunction with the most practicable communication, should form a principal consideration in defining a locality for the present work. As the traffic on each side will be conducted by steamers, it would be a matter of pecuniary moment to owners, as well as to merchants, that those should be able to enter and leave the respective ports at any time, and that they should if possible lie in such a position as to receive or discharge cargo at the respective wharves.

2. For its facility of construction.

It has already been said that the line No. 1 passes for the most part through forest, and that it could scarcely be better located with regard to materials, whereas on the Awaroa hardly any suitable materials can be found for a canal, and none within a distance of two miles for the short road required in continuation of it.

3. For the intrinsic value of its site.

The line we recommend would, as we have shown, confer direct benefit on 26000 acres of the best Government land, and we think that too much weight cannot be attached to this circumstance. We are of opinion that were the road complete at the present moment, and the portion of the Waikuku block through which it passed, offered for sale, as much money would be realised in excess of the existing value, as would pay for the entire construction of the work in the manner proposed. In other words the Local Position of this thoroughfare is of sufficient value to pay for its own construction, whereas the line by the Awaroa would cost over £100,000.