Stewart. — On the Botorua District. 597 



The country which had to be explored for the railway may, 

 in extent, be described as a plateau extending from Hiwiroa to 

 che north of the coach-road above Tapapa, to Horohoro, a 

 length of twenty miles, having, on the table-land, an average 

 breadth of three to four miles, and about as much more on 

 each flank, bordering on the open country. Probably a fair 

 average of the whole would be aboufc ten miles, giving an area 

 of about two hundred square miles, or 128,000 acres, of work- 

 able country, depending on roads and railway for access. The 

 table -land is of very uniform elevation, being from 1,800ft. to 

 2,000ft. above the sea. Owing to the formation, which is an 

 enormous upheaval of rhyolitic lava, full of fissures, some 

 filled with sand, others open, there need be no wonder that 

 surface-streams are almost unknown, and, where they are 

 found, exist only during part of the year. Each nucleus of 

 settlement will require to be supphed with water by means of 

 a hydrauHc ram, after the manner of the railway water-sup- 

 plies to be described. The soil, when wet, is a rich brown, 

 almost black, or chocolate loam, 1ft. to 2ft. thick, resting 

 generally on the grey soft rock, with often a stratum of small 

 yellow gravel between. The soil takes grass, and holds it 

 well, as evidenced by a rough clearing burnt off nearly six 

 years ago, and sown with grass-seed of not the very best kmd 

 for the purpose. 



The whole of this very desirable field for settlement can 

 be thrown open by the construction of the railway, and an 

 ordinary bush-road from Kaponga northwards to the Oxford- 

 Eotorua Eoad— a length of about four miles— and a road from 

 Kaponga to Horohoro as settlement advances, joining the 

 Taupo Eoad, a length of sixteen miles. Good roads are, how- 

 ever, somewhat expensive in that country. The soil is so soft 

 and deep that it works with traffic in wet weather into a black 

 mud, and often impassable holes. The soft grey rock, how- 

 ever, when applied in sufficient qaantity, makes and mamtams 

 a surprisingly good road-surface. Any scheme for settlmg 

 that country should include large temporary, and smaller per- 

 manent, reserves of the natural forest — first, for affordmg 

 winter-feed for the settlers' cattle before they can clear 

 ground enough to supply that want ; secondly, for general 

 public purposes; but principally for climatic reasons. Tree- 

 planting on a large scale, in clumps and belts, as the native 

 bush is cut down, should be enforced. The timbers are 

 ordinary kinds. Totara is very rare, excepting towards Horo- 

 horo. Eimu and the other pines, excepting, of course, kauri, 

 are plentiful. The great bulk is tawa, some of which is very 

 large, and could be put to many useful purposes. The climate 

 in the open land of Patetere is very dry and bracing, and one 

 of the most enjoyable parts of New Zealand to live in. On 



