Stewaet. — On the Eotorua District. 601 



week lead only to a present extension to Tarukenga Station, 

 at the crossing of the line with the coach-road, a length of 

 4 miles 62 chains, although the Statement puts it at only 

 three miles. That length includes the heaviest works to be 

 found on an equal distance on the whole line, and comprises 

 the rocky grading down Te Toto Eavine and the crossing 

 of Te Uhi and Mangarewa Gullies. The coaching length 

 from Tarukenga to the old township of Ohinemutu is nearly 

 eight miles. The through journey can be easily performed in 

 one day, but nothing short of the complete railway-line will 

 ever satisfy the demands of invalids, or be commensui'ate 

 with the requirements and amenities of the district. 



There is no better constructed railway in the colony than 

 this line. The rails are of steel, and the heaviest in use here. 

 The stations and buildings are most ample in accommodation. 

 The same remark applies with greater force to the water- 

 supplies, which are fixed with regard to the necessary ex- 

 penditure of steam on the various parts of the line. The 

 water-tanks are brick towers, and are of a description to be 

 found on no other railway in or out of New Zealand, unless 

 it is true, as has been reported, that they have been copied in 

 Victoria by a bricklayer who worked at all of ours. Mata- 

 mata tank holds 20,000 gallons, at an elevation of 15ft. above 

 rails, and is supplied from a well by wind-power. The other 

 four — at Oxford, Putaruru, Lichfield, and Ngatira — are 6,000 

 gallons capacity each, and are supplied by hydraulic rams, 

 which force up from 3,000 to 4,000 gallons per diem. Lich- 

 field, Putaruru, and Ngatira are supplied from the Ngutuwera, 

 Oraka, and Mangakotaha Streams, and to heights of 100ft., 

 120ft., and 340ft. respectively. At the middle of the Kaponga 

 contract the contractor has put down for his own use a ram 

 which forces a splendid supply of the purest and coolest water 

 from the Mangatapu to a height of 310ft. and a distance of 

 five-eighths of a mile. Two more supplies will be required for 

 the extension, besides the terminal one at Eotorua, when the 

 line reaches there. It is proposed to install a supply at Ka- 

 ponga from the Ohinenui, a stream two miles off. The height 

 to be forced is 210ft. This will provide a water-supply for the 

 nucleus of the expected settlement of the plateau ; and by 

 adding, when required, a second ram, for which provision is 

 made, 20,000 gallons may be sent up every day. The pro- 

 posed temporary terminus at Tarukenga will be supplied from 

 the Okakari Creek, 1 mile 30 chains distant, and the required 

 lift is 310ft. The overflows of waste water from Lichfield, 

 Putaruru, and Ngatira are led so as to be of service to the 

 settlements and lands adjacent. This has been of immense 

 benefit to those thirsty lands, and serves to show how easily 

 the water problem may be solved all over that country. 



