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with the locality
appear anxious to
acquire a homestead. I estimate that
within two years, or even less, Cobb’s
coaches should meet at the Gorge from
Wellington and Napier; and I may even
add from Wanganui and the Wairarapa, if,
as I believe is in contemplation, the road from
Masterton to the Gorge and from Palmerston
to the open country of the Manawatu-Rangitikei block be commenced during the current
year. In fact, as the result of the expenditure
of the Wellington proportion of the road
making loan, we may fairly expect to see at
least 150 miles of main road or tramway
traversing a country on which, until the last
few months, hardly a dozen settlers were
located, and opening up for profitable occupation at least one million and a-half of the
most magnificent country in the world. There
is a small piece of bush road between Palmerston
and the Manawatu-Rangitikei which
urgently needs to be opened. It is at present
absolutely impassable, even to horsemen, and
the consequence of this barrier is that hundreds of persons residing in or visiting Rangitikei remain, against their will, unacquainted
with the Manawatu.

In order to occupy the country profitably,
the province also must everywhere force roads,
or, still better, cheap tramways into their
country. That the land will be taken up as
fast as it is made accessible there can be no
manner of doubt, but the flat, moist, alluvial
soil is absolutely prohibitory of locomotion
without the roads, and as saw-mills are brought
into that part of the country, the timber on
the road line may be made to bear a large
proportion, if not the whole, cost of their
formation.

I cannot speak too strongly on the subject
of tramways as the pioneer roads of such a
country as this. Whether cheapness of construction, ease of carriage, or rapidity of execution be taken into consideration, in all these
respects the comparison is infinitely in favor
of the wooden way. The Ngawhakarau road,
now formed more than four years, and doomed
still to remain a slough of despond till the
tramway enables it to be metalled, is an instance in point, and I have no hesitation in
stating that had the tramway preceded the
formation of the other road, the settlers in
that district would have numbered by thousands where now there are only hundreds.

The location of the Scandinavian immigrants
greatly at Palmerston has been most successful.
They are hardy and industrious and render
themselves acceptable to all the real settlers
of the district, who are urgent for the introduction of still more of the same class of people. And with the prospect of work which
saw mills will afford, and of the operations of
the General Government in the formation of
roads and railways it would be necessary and
highly expedient to bring out numerous immigrants from Great Britain or from Europe.

The moral effect of the progress of these
public works upon the native mind, and upon
the Europeans in their estimate of danger from
an outbreak, cannot be exaggerated; all idea of
the possibility of insurrection appears to have
vanished, and the natives themselves are
large contractors, working willingly and well.

An important work of exploration is being
performed by Mr. Booth, R.M., in the
Wanganui-Wangahu country. He is seeking to
ascertain the best and most direct route from
the settled country to the open country surrounding Ruapehu. He has been apparently
successful in finding a good line, and more than
one passable track, and if, as is in contemplation
I believe, access should be given to that country,
a very large and fine field for immigration
would be opened. The country of the interior
is generally spoken of as poor. This is a
great mistake as far as that part of it lying to
the Southward of the mountain is concerned.
The open country is nearly all good, and large
and frequent clearings occur both on the Turakina and Wangahu rivers.

The survey of the main railway line through
the Province is progressing favourably, and
there is every reason to suppose that the plans,
with all necessary information, will be ready
for the Assembly on its next meeting.

Paymaster’s Office,
Wellington, June 3, 1871.

SIR,—I have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of certain papers relating to Railway
surveys in this part of the Colony, and in
compliance with your request beg to furnish
the following brief abstract.

I have the honour, &c.,

Jos. G. HORNEBOWTH,
Paymaster and Inspector.

The papers above referred to include the
Manawatu to Napier line by way of the Manawatu Gorge.

The estimated length of the gorge is six
miles, and from 36 yards to 60 yards in
width; the sides, in most parts, perpendicular,
and in some places overhanging, rising to the
height of from 200 to 600 feet above water
level.

The proposed site for the railway bridge
over the Manawatu river being about 200 feet
wide.

The engineer in charge of this work on the
Wellington side is Mr. Stewart, and on the
Napier side Mr. Weber.

Explorations were undertaken by these
officers extending over a considerable period;
the voluminous correspondence gives evidence
of the great care exercised by them to secure
the best line, which was not determined until
they had compared notes and consulted with
each other; a mode of procedure most likely
to secure the best results, and the adoption of
which, whenever practicable, should be adhered to.

The estimated cost of forming these six
miles of road through the gorge is £10,000;
the gradients will be good, mostly level, and
in all respects suitable for a railway line.

The Manawatu line will meet the line from
Napier to Wairarapa and Wellington at the
eastern entrance to the gorge.

The works north of Wanganui are in charge
of Mr. Carrington, but beyond this fact the
papers contain no information.

The survey of the Wellington to Masterton
line has been undertaken by Mr. Rochfort on
his own terms; this line is considerably
longer than the present coach road, but the
gradients secured are much easier. Previous to
this survey being undertaken an exploration was
made through Captain Smith’s line, which
crosses the Rimutaka at a lower level than the
present road, but for a railway line was found
to be unsuitable.

Two other lines have been examined, viz.,
Sinclair’s line by way of the Wainuiomata, and
Allen’s line which crosses the Hutt river near
its mouth and follows up White’s line to the
Hutt gorge, but neither of these have the
required recommendations.

Mr. Rochfort has also reported on the tunnelling
of the Rimutaka (of which line he
does not report favourably), and the forty or
seventy mile bush track; and for the survey
of a railway line through the latter a tender
has been made, the acceptance of which is still
in abeyance.

Among the papers is a telegram from the
General Government Agent, Mr. Ormond,
relating to the purchase of the seventy mile
bush block, within the boundaries of which
block a considerable portion is in the Wellington Province.

The purchase of this extensive tract of
country will prove of great importance in the
settlement and profitable occupation of the