Life in the Interior. — Puhlic Roads. 169 



out for us, by the only road wlilcli exists between Tuakan 

 and Drury, was constructed partly by the land-holders along its 

 course, partly by the surveyors, only intended for cattle, and 

 to facilitate survey. We found it in such a rude state that it 

 was only with much trouble we got our horses over the trees 

 which lay felled across the road, or could induce them to 

 put a foot on the bridges of loose planks by which the 

 water-courses were crossed. In every direction the path was 

 over-grown with roots, between deep pools, into which one 

 stepped over the knees, while the boughs of the trees overhead 

 rendered any attempt at progress a matter of considerable 

 difficulty. 



''We could now form a pretty correct estimate of 'life in 

 the interior of New Zealand,' and of the obstacles the settler 

 has to encounter in a climate, the vegetation of which grows 

 in rank luxuriance almost rivalling that of the tropics. As, 

 however, the Colonial Government attaches the utmost 

 importance to this matter, and expends large sums in laying 

 out good roads throughout the interior, many of the impedi- 

 ments to traffic at present existing will be obviated in a few 

 years. About 9 p,m. we were once more in Drury, and on 

 the following morning, 2nd January, 1859, the little party 

 returned to Auckland, when the geologist of the Expedition 

 made a comprehensive report to Government on the coal- 

 fields of the Drury district, which had first been noticed by 

 the Rev. Mr. Purchas of Onehunga, who employed his leisure 

 in geological studies." 



