The origi nal bush track from Starvation Point to the Saddle was cut on the river bank, and the river encroaching on the land has destroyed it in most places, so that in making a stock road the only old worlf that is available is the road from Matthews' to Starvation Point, which will require to be repaired. J do not think it will be advisable to set out a new line on that section, for although .the pre- OOTkt lin»..:-— * ■■-" "i» UUlf HOlTTire" ground is for the most part sound and hard, and the funds available will not ad mit of any more work being done than can be avoided. The two principal ob stacles in making a good road on this section are two Jeep gullies or -valleys', which cut. the p>ad ftt • right angles ; going from Matthews' the track runs on a gradually rising table land with the river Ahaura flowing ; in a deep fgorge on the right hand; on reaching the big gully, the traqk descends 409 feet, and then rises again 265 ft on to another table land. In 'a short distance, the second gully is reached, the descent into this is about 100 ft, and ascent on the other side the same height. The track rise* and falls over terraces until the open level land above Starvation Point is reached ; a road would then be made in level bush land to within five miles of the Saddle, with but few cross ings of the river, The red line on the sketch map shows the route J would pro pose. I would recommend the Govern ment to repair the existing track through the Ten-Mile bush, at a cost say LIOOO, a new road to avoid Starvation Point, cost, say LBOO for two miles, and side cutting to ascend saddle say four miles, gradient' one in ten, at L 250 per mile, LIOOO ; as I understand L 3500 is available for the road, the remaining LSOO would be re-, quired for overseers' wages and cost of setting out the work. I would advise the. 