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No. 2.

Provincial Engineer’s Office,
Wellington, 28th April, 1874.

Sir,—

I have the honor to enclose for your information, copies of reports forwarded to me by Mr. W. A. Fitzherbert and Mr. John Barton, with reference to the proposed deviation of the present Paikakariki Hill road, also tracings, shewing the two routes explored and reported upon.

The result of the explorations amounts to this.

The estimated length of the deviation from Blackey’s to Wainui (which I shall hereafter describe as No. 1) would be about 7½ miles, a great portion of it through very rough and broken country, the elevation of the road would be only 59 feet less than present line; and the quantity of Crown Land available for settlement, would be at most 680 acres, and the approximate cost of construction £14,000.

The estimated length of deviation by way of the Mungaroa to Waikanae is 18 miles, there are no engineering difficulties in the way, the steepest grade being not more than 1 in 20. The line opens up a large extent of Crown lands available for settlement, and which from its proximity to the Railway now in course of construction, would be readily taken up; there is also a large quantity of very serviceable timber and plenty of water-power. The cost of the line would be very little more than No. 1.

Comparing the two proposed routes, in my opinion the advantages gained by taking or adopting No. 2, viz., opening up a large extent of Crown Land, bringing the West Coast within an easy distance of the Wellington and Masterton Railway (and as far as our explorations go there would be little difficulty in constructing a railway itself), and the easy work required in construction, are such as to command this line to the favourable consideration of the Government.

I may also add, that the extension of the line northward, or as it is called the inland road up the West Coast, would be more easily carried on at the back of the first coast range, then if the road started from Wainui and followed up at the foot of the hills.

I have, &c,
J. D. BAIRD,
Provincial Engineer.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Wellington.

Enclosure 1 in No. 2.

Wellington, 20th March, 1874.

Sir,—

According to your instructions, I proceeded to Waikanae in company with Mr. J. Barton, to explore the country lying between Waikanae and the Mungaroa, to ascertain the extent of country suitable for settlement, quality of timber, nature of the soil &c., and to ascertain whether a practicable line of road could be found from the Mungaroa to Waikanae.

I make the following extracts from my journal:—

Monday, 9th March.

Our party consisted of Mr. J. Barton, Mr. A. Cruickshank, and myself. We left Wellington at 9 a.m., and proceeded to Otaki; our object in going to Otaki, was to see the Hon. Wi Parata, who had promised His Honor the Superintendent to accompany us through.

The Native Land Court was sitting at Otaki at the time, and consequently Wi Parata was unable to accompany us, he however supplied us with three guides, viz., his son and two natives.

It was too late to return to Waikanae the same day, we therefore remained at Otaki until the following morning.

Tuesday, 10th March.

Left Otaki at 11 a.m., and arrived at Waikanae at 1 p.m., packed our swags and started up the Waikanae river, at 6 p.m.; we arrived at Camp No. 1—see accompanying sketch. This place is called Kikiorangi, and is 250 feet above the level of the sea, there is a point of hill running out which commands a view of the Waimate River looking up stream, also of the Waikanae looking both up and down stream. Upon this admirable position there is an old fortified pah, built in the days of Te Rauparaha.

From the entrance of the bush up to this point the land is light alluvial soil, covered with timber, consisting of Rata, Tawa, and light scrub.

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