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Loaf, to and across the only practicable pass in the Eldon 

 Range. By this time the funds granted for the survey were 

 exhausted, but the surveyor in charge pushed through to 

 Zeehan with one man, via Lake Augusta, Lake Dora, and Mount 

 Dundas, encountering difficulties which can be realised only 

 by those who have some personal knowledge of the rugged 

 mountains and dense scrubs of the West, but finding a 

 practicable i-oute. The time has not yet arrived for the 

 construction of either of these railways as a matter of public 

 policy, but the surveys have placed on record a mass of 

 information for which use may be found at some future date. 



Leaving the question of railway communication with the 

 West Coast, a short description may be given of the tracks 

 which are already in existence, and the routes which should 

 be opened without further delay. 



For many years past there has been a practicable track from 

 Mole Creek, diverging from the Y.D.L. Co.'s road so as to 

 reach the tableland by way of the Fish River, and giving 

 access to the Great Lake on the east, and the Marlborough 

 country on the south, passing by the Nineteen Lagoons. Up 

 to this point there are already sufficient facilities for horse 

 and cattle traffic, and beyond it, via Bally's Peak, Bronte, and 

 Marlborough, there is a fairly practicable roai for horse 

 drays or light carts to Lake St. Clair and Mount King 

 William, the starting point of the Linda track, along which 

 small herds of cattle are occasionally driven to Mount Lyell 

 and Strahan. This route from Mole Creek constitutes an 

 important line of communication between the northern and 

 north-eastern districts and the West Coast, and all the 

 improvements which are required to facilitate traffic along it 

 may be effected at a very moderate cost. 



In order to establish direct communication between Laun- 

 ceston and the Western silver fields, a route has been 

 suggested, which, deviating from the last mentioned track 

 between the head waters of the Mersey and Forth, would 

 follow the general course of the uncompleted railway survey 

 between Mount Pelion and Barn Bluff to near Granite Tor, 

 and either cross the Murchison south of Sophia Peak, or 

 near its junction with the Mackintosh, according as the 

 destination is Mount Eead or the vicinity of Mount Black. 

 This route would intersect an important belt of mineral 

 country, of which little is, known at present. 



A more direct route from the North-Western settlements, 

 and more convenient for horse or foot traffic, would be 

 opened by connecting Zeehan with the rich agricultural 

 district of Kentish bury, via Eailton, Sheffield, Mount Claude, 



