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3rd. The timber in the forests consists mainly of Black, Red and White Pines,
Totara, Rata, Tawa, and Hinau. This timber, so soon as roads and railways permeate
through the country, will of itself be of considerable value, and should if possible be saved
from the universal destruction going on in the few settlements already existing. I am
aware that the practical solution of a large question of this kind presents difficulties; nevertheless I think some plan might be devised to save so large and valuable a portion of the
Crown property. The day is not far distant when the timber now growing on these
lands would, properly utilized, realize millions of pounds sterling. I venture respectfully
to outline my view on this matter for any consideration you may deem it entitled to,
believing, as I do, that under proper regulations the expenditure to be incurred in
making roads and railways through this fine portion of the country would be nearly if
not wholly recouped by the sale of the timber growing thereon, and thereafter the land
sold by the Crown for as high or possibly, in some instances, a higher price than it
would now realize. In the province of Canterbury lately, bush land realized £40 sterling
per acre. I am quite sure that no private person or Corporation would part with the
land at a nominal price with the knowledge that hundreds of thousands of pounds
sterling would be lost by the wholesale destruction of these splendid forests. Another
question during my journey presented itself to my mind, namely, seeing that the railway
to Masterton is now under authorization, and parts thereof under contract, I venture to
point out how desirable it would be to, if possible, make the present partially newly
formed main road (known as Munro’s track) a Railway or Tramway at once, instead of,
as contemplated, a metalled road. The formation now making by the General Government would, I have little doubt, with some slight alteration, be available for rails, and
the bridges also, while the cost of metalling the roads (not yet done) from the scarceness
of stone along the road would go far towards the cost of rails, and the extra value thus
given to this naturally splendid piece of country would in my opinion, in which opinion
I am heartily seconded by Mr. Holdsworth, be very considerable to both sellers and
purchasers. No piece of country in New Zealand that I have seen deserved a Railway
better than this.

4th. In the absence of a proper Survey of the Country it is impossible for me to give
in this Report exact boundaries of the lands proposed to be selected, indeed to do this
with minuteness and great care, through a virgin forest, would entail the employment of
a somewhat large staff of Surveyors, Linemen, and others, and at least from three to
four months of time in a different season of the year to that of nearly mid-winter; but
so satisfied am I from personal observation of the general character and formation of
the country through which we passed—together with information given to me by Mr.
Holdsworth, Crown Lands Commissioner; Mr. Baker and Mr. Morrow, General
Government Surveyors; Mr. Mouro and Mr. Stewart, Engineers in the Public Works
Department of the General Government; and Mr. A. W. Carkeek, of the Provincial
Survey Department, (to all of whom I tender my thanks for the hearty manner in which
they supplied the information in their power),—that I have no hesitation whatever of
assuring you that, subject to the surveys being made either as I may direct, or, which I
should much prefer, under the immediate direction and supervision of Mr. Heale or
other competent officer of Survey under the General Government, sixty thousand acres
of good land can be got within the limits of the line colored blue on the plan herewith,
and twenty thousand acres from between the Oroua and Pohangina rivers, adjoining on
the one side the Feilding block, and running between the two rivers until the area
computes to twenty thousand acres. This piece of land is not on the plan herewith. It is
not necessary, as the description here given is sufficiently concise as direction for the
survey. In mentioning one block of sixty thousand acres as a portion of the eighty
thousand, instead of three blocks of twenty thousand each, I apprehend no objection
will offer itself. This course has been forced upon me in the present state of the non-
survey of the country, but if any importance be attached to this point the permanent
survey can be so arranged as to make the matter coincide exactly with the terms of the
letters upon which this report is based. The country included within the blue color on
the plan exceeds to a considerable extent the area required; indeed some part thereof
has been sold to the Scandinavians, and possibly other persons, while there are also a
few Native Reserves therein. This large area has been taken by me simply to give to
the Crown Surveyors ample margin to insure a selection of sufficiently level and
undulating lands as shall equal what I have described. After survey the excess will
revert to the Province.

More than this cannot in the mean time be done.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) THOMAS CALCUTT.

The Hon. the Minister for Immigration,
Wellington.