270

would therefore recommend arc—that the new
road from Saddle Hill to West Taieri, a dis-
tance of eight or nine miles, be constructed and
metalled so as to open up the line of commu-
nication, while an equal extent of work be
executed towards the Lower Taieri Ferry,
and that besides, the worst portions of the road
in the Tokomairro Plain be also placed in a
position to bear constant traffic. I would let
the contractors in one or two mile lengths.
The cost of these roads will vary from £1000
to £2000 a mile.

As my recommendations are subject to the
approval of Government, I need not notice at
length other items, but I would desire to ex-
plain that having no principle to guide me in
allotting money to Branch, Contingent, and
Supplemental, roads which lead to no foci of
population, I have not taken it upon myself
to propose any, believing that this delicate
subject will be better dealt with by your
Honor's Government and the Members of
Council interested in them, than by me.

Of Bridges, I have recommended several,
the most important of which are over the
Taieri River. That over this River near the
Upper Ferry is indispensable—the river being
here very rapid, subject to high floods, and
unfit for bearing a punt; that over the River
at the Lower Ferry, though not absolutely
necessary, is highly desirable for the conve-
nience of the great traffic. The other bridges
that I have recommended are for smaller
rivers, but which, when swollen, are impas-
sible, and when completed will be of great
public benefit. The foot bridge that Mr.
Murray has erected over the Waipahuna,
the being only intended for foot passengers, should
as soon as possible be replaced by one capa-
ble of bearing horse traffic also.

The accompanying map marked A is in-
tended to shew at a glance the distribution
of agricultural and pastoral land. The most
important district will be seen to lie between
Dunedin and the Mataura. The other im-
portant district lies between Dunedin and the
Waitaki. Inland of Dunedin the land will
be observed to be high and only fit for pasto-
ral purposes. These facts materially affect
measures to be taken in the Road Department,
by indicating the directions in which the
great masses of population will settle. The
other great mixed agricultural and pastoral
districts will be seen to be in the Upper Wai-
taki, Upper Clutha, Upper Waiau, Manuhi-
rikia, and Maniot to Valleys.

The map marked B shows the lines of
depressions, and along which road lines are best
taken. They run longitudinally and trans-
versely to the axis of Middle Island. The
arrangement would appear fanciful, were the
coincidences not so remarkable, which may be
seen by examination. As a general rule,
wherever roads have to be taken diagonally to
those lines, obstructions are met with. Also
wherever the great rivers do not conform to
the same, their causes are obstructed by rocks
and rugged cliffs, or mountains. Thus for in-
terior or transverse roads we have—1st. The
depression of the Waitaki for 84 miles from
the coast. 2nd. The depression of the Shag
Valley, Upper Taieri, Manuhirikia, and
Wanaka plains, for 125 miles from the coast,
in the same way another line of depression
runs from near Dunedin, though it be higher
than the rest; also a very remarkable one
from the mouth of the Clutha river, which
renches as far as the Te-anau Lakes.

The object of bringing these lines of depres-
sion to your Honor's notice is to show at a
glance the natural trunk roads of the Pro-
vince—and those at present having public in-
terest, I have drawn on map C. The most
important of these is doubtless that leading
from Dunedin to the Southern districts, and
the next in importance that leading from the
same place to the Northern districts. In these
districts will the great bulk of our population
settle.

Having this in view, I have noted the vari-
ous sums that I would propose to be expended,
and on which subject I have already reported
in the preceding portion of this letter.

The discovery of a gold field, and the con-
sequent great addition of population and traf-
fic will ere long call for more facilities of
speed and carriage than can be afforded by the
common road. It will, therefore, not be out
of place in me to volunteer such information
on the subject of railways as may assist your
Honor's Government in entering on the ques-
tion.

Between Dunedin and Invercargill, no dif-
ficulties of a serious nature would obstruct the
construction of a railway—but northwards
from Oamaru, there are obstacles that could
only be surmounted by enormous expenditure.
Neither the prospective population, nor re-
sources of the northern districts would lead me
to believe that a railway will be undertaken
in this generation. Towards the interior dis-
tricts, the same remarks are applicable. In
map C, I have marked out the route most
suitable for a railway line, and there can be no
doubt as to its proper direction, until the
centre of the Tokomairro plain is arrived at.
From hence to the basin of the Mataura two
lines may be taken with nearly equal facility,
one via Tuapeka and the other via South
Clutha. The cost of these lines would average
not under £15,000 per mile. Thus a line
from Dunedin to Tokomairro in length 35
miles would cost £525,000, a common road for
the same distance will cost £1,500 per mile, or
£52,500. It is therefore clear that the com-
mon road should be pushed on in the mean-
time as being within the power of the pro-
vince to complete at an early date—leaving
the more perfect but expensive system of com-
munication to a time when population and
capital will warrant the undertaking.

The other line that calls for notice is that
between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, and on
this subject there is likely to be much diversity
of opinion, more from the clashing of oppo-
nent interests than on the real merits of the
case. For heavy goods there is an excellent
line of communication between the capital and
the Port town, afforded by the Estuary. For
light goods and passengers only, therefore, is a
railroad desirable. The line presents many
difficulties to a permanent work in heavy cut-
tings, embankments or sea walls.
The cost of which could not be estimated under
£30,000 to £40,000 per mile. The distance is 8
miles, consequently the work would cost
£240,000 to £320,000. The estuary from
Port Chalmers to Dunedin may be deepened,