The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 7 (November 1, 1933)
[section]
The first reconnaissance survey of the Central railway route through the King Country, in 1883–84, was carried through under difficult and sometimes perilous conditions, because of the hostility of some of the Maori tribes in the upper part of the Wanganui River basin. The story of the adventures of Mr. John Rochfort, Government surveyor, is concluded here.