Forgotten World Highway, North Island, NZ

Joshua Morgan was a pioneer surveyor  who blazed the trail for the road through Tangaraksu Gorge.  The year was 1893.  Mr Morgan, a young man in his thirties, became very ill while doing his job.  Two of his assistants,  J. Laing and W. Telfer, bushwacked their way out of this rain forest of fern to the coast at Urenui to get medicine for Joshua.  The medicine only worked to releave the pain, for a short time.  Another attempt was made to get more medicine but Joshua Morgan died before the second supply of medicine reached him.  He was buried on the spot where he died which was the junction of Paparate Stream and Tangarakau River.
Joshua' widow, Anna lived to the age of 85 years.  Her wish was to be buried beside her husband. Her request was honored.
The trail Joshua Morgan was developing before he died is now called the Forgotten World Highway. This beautiful scenic byway is highway number 43 and travels between Taumarunui and Stratford on the North Island.  It is a very remote area and if "Forgotten World" means, the world as it was before man entered it, this highway certainly is well named.

Submitted by: Bernadette Heath, photographer and writer, Janet Webb Farnsworth, writer for " Grandma Needs a Four-Wheel Drive, Adventure Travel for Seniors" www.grandmaneedsafour-wheeldrive.com