213

From the foregoing data, it will be seen that the Wangapeka and the Flora's Creek lines are the two shortest, lowest, best, and cheapest. They also each have the advantage of opening up new ground all the way.

The Wangapeka line would throw open the whole valley of the Upper Karamea and the head of the Mokihinui, and the road can easily be laid out on such gradients that it may, when required, be widened into a dray-road. This is also the only line by which a dray-road can be made, except at an enormous expense.

The Flora's Creek line could only be made into a horse-track, and would be a long drag for loaded horses; but it throws open all the whole valley of the Takaka, and Salisbury Open, a district long reported to be auriferous, but almost inaccessible at present. By looking at the accompanying map, it will be seen that, by crossing the range anywhere much to the southward of Jones's line, the Crow will be reached, and not the Karamea. Therefore a road by Hough's line, or any other line, into the head of the Crow, will be high, long, and difficult, the length being caused by the great bend the Crow makes to the southward. The mountains also bordering the Crow are very high and rugged, precluding the possibility of any available short cut to the Karamea Bend.

As a present means of supplying the existing wants of the Karamea, and pending the establishment of any more permanent means of communication with the Karamea, I should recommend that the present foot-track by Jones's line be materially improved and altered, from the Karamea Bend to the flat at the east side of the saddle, and that from this flat a good packing-track be made to Taylor's, at the Baton River; improving also the road below this, to and down the Motueka River. From Taylor's to the flat the distance is 5 miles, of which 2 miles are at present available for horse-traffic. That leaves 6 miles to be made, which I estimate at £40 per mile—£240. To make a good foot-track over the range, putting up stout snow-poles at short distances over the bare part, would cost about £50; making a total of £290.

This would supply the present wants of the diggers, who are mostly working on the Leslie and near the Karamea Bend. A man could then go easily from the Bend over the range for stores, and back in a day. Under any circumstances this line will always be preferred by diggers and other travellers on foot, by reason of the quick means of communication it furnishes between the Baton and Karamea Rivers. During the past winter men have continually used this line, even when covered with snow.

In conclusion, I may state that it gives me great pleasure in testifying to the correctness of the reports and sketches which have been given to the Government of the Mount Arthur range and surrounding districts, by Messrs. Skeet, Rochfort, O'Connor, and Groom.

The above exploration occupied nearly six weeks, during which time we experienced the most unfavourable weather.

I have the honour to remain,
Your most obedient servant,

A. DUDLEY DOBSON,
Assistant Provincial Engineer.

Engineer's Office, Nelson,
December 2, 1867.

TABLE OF ALTITUDES:

DUTTON'S TRACK.

Mouth of Graham . . . . . . 200
Foot of Loadstone Spur . . . . . 456
Loadstone Mount (highest point that track rises on the Loadstone), . . . . . 4,396
Flora's Creek . . . . . . 3,002
Mount Arthur Spur . . . . . 4,110
Horse-shoe Creek . . . . . 3,255
Saddle at Gordon's Pyramid . . . . 4,400
Mount Arthur (highest point of track) . . 4,639
The Ponds . . . . . . 3,912
Salisbury Open . . . . . 4,484
Peel River . . . . . . 1,430
Karamea Bend . . . . . 800
Flora's Creek Saddle . . . . . 3,192

JONES' TRACK.

Foot of Limestone Gorge . . . . 953
Top . . . . . . 2,196
Edge of Bush, west side of ridge . . . 4,534
Jones's Saddle . . . . . 4,881
Snow Grass Flat . . . . . 3,691
Edge of Bush, east side of ridge . . . 3,291
Taylor's (Baton River) . . . . 700

HOUGH'S TRACK.

Foot of spur, 7 miles 32 chains . . . 2,665
Saddle . . . . . . 4,290
Top of spur, 9 miles 8 chains . . . 3,948
Western foot of mountain, 10 miles . . 2,270
Mouth of Crow . . . . . 1,123
Knuckle Peak, south of Saddle . . . 4,826

ROCHFORT'S TRACK.

West foot of saddle, 22 miles from Karamea Bend . . . . . . 3,099
Saddle . . . . . . 3,489
East foot of saddle . . . . . 2,432
Wangapeka forks . . . . . 1,860
Rolling River . . . . . 1,044
Wangapeka Plain . . . . . 800

TABLE OF DISTANCES.

Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government, Nelson, by NATION & LUCKIE, Waimea-street, Nelson, Printers for the time being to the said Government.