\ 
ROADS, PASSES, AND AVAILABLE 
LJlNJ_) € 
CHAPTER IV. 
ROADS, PASSES, AND AVAILABLE LAND. 
avino already in the first two parts given a general outline of 
the country I shall now proceed to speak of the best means of 
traversing it, keeping always in view the necessity of opening up 
lor settlement the available parts of its various districts. In mv 
preliminary report I have already stated what I thought of the 
road selected by Mr. Mackay, namely, that it is a very fair one 
not presenting any serious difficulties to prevent its being carried 
through to the mouth of the Grey; and I presume that it can be 
improved and shortened, although the pass through the western 
ranges, from the Maruia plains, necessarily the central point will 
always be found the easiest. ’ 
One great drawback to the road selected, until we reach the 
Maruia plains, is the absence of grass land on the banks of the 
rivers, toe few spots here and there found being scarcely worth 
speaking of. It is therefore of the greatest moment to select 
such a road as will, when once cut, aftord sufficient food for 
horses and other animals of burden. 
Having carefully looked over the country, I think the best and 
easiest road will be the following. Supposing that, as I believe, 
the low saddle between the Rivers Wangapeka and Owen can be 
easily reached from the Nelson side, which must be ascertained 
from that side (for of the descent on the Owen side I have not 
the least fear), we could then reach the broad valley of the Owen, 
which contains grassy patches on the river banks. One mile from 
its junction with the Buller the road would leave the river, and 
pass through an alluvial flat on its eastern side, in a south-south¬ 
eastern direction towards the Buller. It would then cross it, one 
mile above the junction of the Owen, where it is divided into three 
arms, presenting an easy ford. Here also small patches of grass 
are found on both sides of the stream, now the abode of a herd of 
wild cattle. By following this road, we should avoid the round¬ 
about way by the lake river and the Devil’s Grip, where doubtless 
there are several bad crossings, and where no available land, like 
that in the Owen valley, exists. I may also state that the road 
from the Howard over the hills to Lake Roto-roa, and thence 
