212

"The track crosses the bare mountain ridge at the southern base of a rugged peak, which rises about 600 feet above it; on the southward, the main ridge rises gradually, and attains an altitude of 4,826 feet at Knuckle Peak, 70 chains from the track, and falls rapidly to a wooded saddle about 1 mile 40 chains from where the track crosses the mountain. This latter saddle, although 300 feet lower than the one over which the track is taken, is very difficult to approach on both sides, and was therefore on that account not selected by Mr. Snow.

On leaving the summit the track descends the hill-side, falling 190 feet in 15 chains, where it reaches the flat of a narrow spur, which stands out like a buttress into the Crow valley, the ridge of this spur, which is undulating, narrow, and rocky, is then followed to 9 miles 8 chains (height, 3,948 feet), the spur then descends very rapidly to 9 miles 50 chains (height, 2,889 feet), falling 1,059 feet in 42 chains; this descent continues, the track reaching the flat of the Crow Valley at 10 miles (height, 2,270 feet), falling 619 feet in 30 chains. This descent into the Crow is one of the worst features in this line, the measured distance down the spur, from the top to the bottom, is 72 chains, but this is the surface measurement chained along the track, which zig-zags in many places on account of the steepness, and the descent is 1,678 feet, the mean rise of this spur, ascertained by a number of observations with a clinometer, is 1 foot in 2 feet 4 inches.

The track then follows down the valley of the Crow, occasionally crossing the river to secure the best ground; narrow flats occur in many places for the first 2 miles (or 12 from the commencement); between this and 22 miles 40 chains, a distance of 10 miles 40 chains, the valley is very narrow and rocky, the river in several places running in a deep gutter cut in the rocks only a few feet wide; cliffs border the river in many places, rising from 150 feet to 200 feet above the water level; the track either winds round these cliffs on the debris at their base, or zig-zags over them, the travelling in these places being extremely laborious.

Bare escarpments are visible in places, where acres of soil covered with timber have slid off the smooth rocky precipitous mountain sides into the river.

After reaching 22 miles 40 chains, the track runs through flat bush, for the greater part of the way, to 26 miles 23 chains, where it joins Rochfort's track at the junction of the Crow and Karamea, 5 miles 54 chains from the Bend, making the total length 32 miles, all but 3 chains. The last-mentioned 5 miles 54 chains is mostly on flat bush land, but there are several rocky points, making a road round which would be open to the sea.

SUMMARY.—From its great length and height, this line of road would not only be expensive to make but also to keep in repair. The only way of accomplishing the descent into the Crow, would be by long zig-zag side-cuttings down the mountain side; the ascent on the east side would also have to be zig-zags, these cuttings would be principally in rock, and would add about 3 miles on to the present length, making a total of 35 miles. Also, from its height, the mountain ridge on both sides of the saddle would frequently be covered with snow, so as to stop horse-traffic during the winter. The country through which this line would go, being very similar to that northward of Mount Arthur, through which I propose the track for Flora's Creek saddle to run (previously described) I estimate it at the same sum per mile taken throughout—35 miles, at £50 per mile, £1,750.

ROCHFORT'S TRACK.

Describing this track as I travelled it, it commences at the Karamea Bend, and runs on the east bank of the river, crossing the Crow at 5 miles 54 chains. As before mentioned, this part of the road would require a good deal of work, on account of several rocky points.

From the Crow to the 18th mile, the track runs for the most part over flat bush country and river terraces; from this point to the 20th mile, a good deal of side-cutting in rock would be required. The track then goes along narrow stony flats on the bank of the river to 22 miles the foot of the saddle (height, 3,099 feet), then up a steep side-cutting to 22 miles 20 chains, the top of the saddle (height, 3,489 feet) having risen 390 feet in 20 chains; then down the east side to 23 miles 60 chains, the eastern foot of the saddle (height, 2,432 feet), having fallen 1,057 feet in 1 mile 40 chains; then down the valley of the Wangapeka over flat bush land and river terraces, to 28 miles; from this point to the end of the present horse-road, distance 2 miles, would be chiefly rock side-cutting. Total length of present track, 30 miles.

SUMMARY.—This line is the only one suitable for making a dray-road; good gradients can be obtained, as the mountains at the heads of the Karamea and Wangapeka are much lower; neither are they so rocky as those more to the northward.

In laying out a road by this line, I should not propose to cross the saddle chosen for the present track, but one considerably to the northward of it, cutting off a large bend; this saddle would be about 3,600 feet high. This proposed line would shorten the present road by 6 miles, which would leave the number of miles to be made at 24 miles, 12 miles of which being through flat bush country, would not be very costly.

Estimate for horse-road, with gradients suitable for dray-road:—

£
Twelve miles flat ground, £30 per mile . . 360
Twelve miles rough ground, £50 per mile . . 600

Total . . . . £960

GENERAL REMARKS ON THE MOUNT ARTHUR RANGE, AND COMPARISON OF TRACKS.

The range of mountains, of which Mount Arthur is the highest peak, commences at Separation Point, and runs in a south-westerly direction for a distance of 52 miles to the head of the Wangapeka. Here the range becomes much lower and broken; it then rises again, forming a mass of mountains lying between the River Buller and the heads of the Wangapeka.

The Wangapeka and other streams falling into the Motueka River, drain the eastern, and the Karamea and Takaka drain the western slopes of the Mount Arthur range.

There is no break of deep gap in this range from one end to the other. The Takaka road crosses it at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. There is a slight depression, forming a saddle, at the head of Flora's Creek; height, 3,192 feet. Neither Jones's nor Hough's lines cross the mountains by what can be called passes, in the usual sense of the word. They both really cross the mountain-ridge, only 500 feet or 600 feet below their adjoining principal peaks. Lines may be taken over the mountain in several places at a considerably lower level than Hough's, but they offer no advantages which are not possessed in a superior degree by the Wangapeka route.