45

tween the mouth of the Buller and Nelson, by the
road we are now making.

From what observations I have made, the South
bank of the Buller, as far as the Lyell, appears to be
in every way better suited for the purposes of road
making than the North bank.

It is also to be observed that a road on the South
bank, will communicate, directly, with much larger
tracts of rich and available land, auriferous or other-
wise, than occurs on the North side; lying in the
valleys of the Inangahua, Maruia, Matakitaki,
Mangles, Tutaki, and Tiraumea.

Each of these valleys will require, and must have a
road of its own, and each of these roads must join
some common line of communication, which will be
furnished by the road now in progress.

This brings me to the consideration of another
part of this subject. I am not aware of what has
been done, during my absence, to find out a direct
road to the Buller, or more precisely, to the Lyell
diggings.

However desirable this may be, it will be at once
evident, that even if this could be accomplished, it
would form but a very small portion of the works
necessary to thoroughly lay open the very large and
extensive district of the Buller and those connected
with it, as besides involving the necessity of having
a bridge or large ferry on the Buller, we should still
require the road along the river, as just described.
To make the system of roads complete, we may pro-
bably find a necessity for another line, a continuation
of one already commenced, on the north bank of the
Buller, by way of the Devil's Grip, to extend as far
as the Lyell, or nearly so; this would open the val-
leys on the north side, the Hope, the Owen, the
Matiri, and another considerable wooded valley,
named by me the "Newton," and about a mile or
two westward of the Maruia, flowing into the Buller,
with a general north and south course, apparently 10
to 12 miles long at least, and from five to six miles
eastward of what is generally known by the name of
the Lyell.

I have every reason to believe that this is the
river to the head of which Mr. Rochfort has pene-
trated, under the impression that he was in the
valley of the Lyell.

The latter is a comparatively small stream, from
six to eight miles long, with a winding, narrow, rocky
bed; the hills rising very steep on each side, and
not such a valley as would be chosen for a line of
road, nor indeed would it be visible, from its small
size, as compared with the stream above mentioned.

From the information I have gained since my
return to Nelson, as to the route followed by Mr.
Rochfort in his explorations in the Wangapeka
district towards the Lyell, coupled with my previous
knowledge of the Wangapeka and Tadmor districts,
I have been led to the conclusion that the saving in
length of road, by way of Wangapeka, has been
much overstated, and that it cannot be more than
two or three miles shorter than the road we are now
making. It will however be of immense importance,
opening out a district hitherto comparatively un-
known, apparently rich in mineral treasures, and
facilitating that movement of population so necessary
thoroughly to make known the resources of a
country.

Before leaving this part of the subject I should
advert to the claims for consideration of another line
of road, viz. a continuation of that already partly
made up the Tadmor valley; which presents an easy
slope and considerable facilities for road-making, and
which was observed and noted for exploration during
my first visit to the Wangapeka district, with his
Honor the Superintendent, 15th January, 1861.

Beyond the saddle at the head of the Tadmor, the
valley either of the Hope or the Owen would offer a
practicable line to the Buller.

This was considered in comparison with the one
now in hand by the Black Valley, but the latter pas-
sing through so much open land, besides having
already better communication with Nelson, was, in
consequence, preferred, the distance from Nelson by
each route being about the same to a given point on
the Buller.

GENERAL REMARKS.

I have every reason to believe that as soon as the
country is laid open by a road, the diggings instead
of being confined to the Lyell, and a few spots on the
banks of the Buller nearer port, will be extended at
once to the Maruia, Matakitaki, Mangles, and other
rivers and creeks, as well as the most workable parts
of the Buller itself, for its whole length.

From its small size, the Lyell, should any great
number of men gain access to it, must soon be
worked out, although it is still yielding gold in abun-
dance, and of the finest description.

The greatest expectations are formed of the Maruia,
as a gold producing river.

Supposing these expectations to be realised, and
that a large population will be located along the
Buller next spring and summer, it will be necessary
to consider what will be required to provide for the
wants of such a community, and to induce settlers
to locate themselves permanently in the country, and
I think there are numerous localities sufficiently at-
tractive which might, with that end in view, be sur-
veyed and offered for sale.

On my arrival at the Buller by the steamer
"Lyttelton," I was altogether surprised and delighted
at the extent and apparent capabilities of the district.

With a broad and deep river, having on both sides
a large area of level land, mostly in bush, between
the beach and the hills, it appeared to me the very
place for a large and industrious working population.

Those engaged in digging and mining must be fed,
and here is room abundant for farming operations;
the bush is dense, but not heavily timbered, and could
be cleared roughly, and grassed down at a compara-
tively small cost, and the soil, as far as I can judge,
will be well suited for the growth of dairy and other
produce, and the pastures on it will be rich and
luxuriant.

I believe that a well laid off township, backed by
rural sections of various sizes, would meet with ready
sale, and that many such as have been driven from
their hardly earned farms in the North Island would
here find a fresh and congenial field for their labors.