r>. -i

106

Awakino Route. This route connects with the Wanganui-New Plymouth opened line at the same point near Waitara Station as the Waitara route, the routes following a common line to 21m. 70 eh., in the Mimi Valley; it connects with the Auckland-Wellington central line at Mokau Station, in the upper part of the Mokau Valley. M. oh. Distance between Waitara and Mokau Junctions ... ... ... 94 0 Distance between Wellington and Auckland vid this route ... ... 474 27 Distance from New Plymouth to Auckland vid this route ... ... 238 77 General Description of Location of each Eoute. Nqaire Route. The line on leaving Eltham Junction runs nearly straight to near the confluence of the Toko and Patea Eivers, passing over en route a corner of the dry Ngaire Swamp and the Patea River; thence it passes into the Makuri Valley, which it follows up to 16J miles ; a tunnel then carries the line into the Mangaotuku Valley, which is followed up to 30f miles; thence by a tunnel it passes into the Makahu Valley. The line proceeds down this valley for three miles and a half to the confluence of the Pohokura Stream, which is followed up to 37 miles; a tunnel then carries line through the divide of the Patea-Wanganui watersheds into the Mangare Valley, which is followed down to the Wangamomona Valley. It proceeds up this valley to the head; thence it passes the head of the Mauku Valley, and proceeds down and up tributaries of the Eaekohua Stream; thence it passes into and down the Waingarara Valley to the Tangarakau Gorge, up which it proceeds to the Paparata Stream ; thence up this stream to the saddle in the Waiaraia Eange. It then descends into the Heao Valley, crosses it, and enters the Paorae Valley, a tributary, which is followed to its source; thence it passes down the Huhatahi Creek to the Mangaroa Eiver, which is followed up to 78 miles, where it passes through a gap into the Ohura Valley. The Ohura Valley is then followed up to 1004- miles, where a low saddle admits of the line passing into the Ongaruhe Valley to the Kawakawa Junction at 103 m. 5 eh. Waitara Route. The line on leaving Waitara keeps within about a mile and a quarter of the sea-coast as far as the Mimi Valley, crossing the Waitara, Waiau, Onairo, and Urenui Eivers; it then follows up the Mimi Valley to the Uruti Stream, which is in turn followed up to the tunnel which carries the line into the Moki Valley, which is followed down to the Waitara Valley; thence the line follows up the Waifcara Valley to 32-J- miles, where it enters a small valley, which is followed up to the head, where a tunnel carries the line into the Makarakia Valley, which is followed up to 37f miles, where another tunnel carries the line back into the Waitara Valley, down which it proceeds to 43-J miles, where it passes over a low saddle and down the Waingarara Valley to the point of junction with the Ngaire route. A saving in the cost and length of this route may possibly be effected by following up the Waitara Eiver all the way from the Moki Stream to the Waingarara Saddle, instead of proceeding vid the Makarakia Valley. Awakino Route. This route leaves the Waitara route at 21 m. 70 eh., in the Mimi Valley. It follows up the Mimi Valley to a little beyond Mount Messenger, where a tunnel carries line through the ridge into the Mangaongaonga Valley, which is followed down to the Tongaporutu Eiver ; thence to the sea-coast at 35 miles. From this point to Awakino Heads at 46J miles the line follows the coast within half a mile, crossing the Tongaporutu, Mohakatino, and Mokau Eivers ; it then follows up the Awakino Eiver to 64 miles, a little above Mahoenui, where it passes into the Mokau Valley at Totoro by following down the Waipari Creek; thence it proceeds to the Mokau-iti Valley, either via the Waikohatu Valley and a low-level bridge over the Mokau Eiver, or via the Teoteo Native Village and a high-level bridge over the Mokau Eiver. From the Mokau-iti Valley the line passes back into the Mokau Valley, which is followed up to the Mokau Station, where it joins the central line. This is apparently the best route for this railway in this direction, as nearly as can be determined by a reconnaissance survey. There are several alternative lines along portions of the route, but whether their merits would justify their adoption can only be determined by trial-line surveys; for instance, by carrying the line along the coast between the Mimi and Tongaporutu Eivers —a perfectly feasible route —a considerable length of line can be saved, but the cost, and avoidance of revenue-producing country up the Mimi Valley, will most likely condemn it; likewise between the Mokau and Awakino Eivers, near the sea, there are three possible routes, while between Totoro and Wairere Falls there are two good routes, indicated by red, full, and dotted lines, and an indifferent route, indicated by green line; there is also an alternative route between Mahoenui at 62 miles, and the Mokau Valley at 86 miles. The two latter routes are difficult of access from the country to the south. Surveys. Ngaire Route. This route has been surveyed by means of a trial line, with sufficient detail and accuracy to show exactly the maximum extent of engineering-works to construct it, and their cost within very narrow limits,