Black Hill Road
Inland travel between Tinui and Masterton first used a track/road up the Black Hill in Tinui Village. This road zigzagged to the top of the Black Hill then descended to join up with the Bute Road. The Black Hill is extremely steep and must have been heart-stopping in a horse and wagon or mail coach. The late Coie O'Brien advised that this route - while very steep - was shorter than the current road, which winds along the side of the Whareama River, past Te Paraetai and Tinui Downs (The Terraces).
The County Council met on Saturday evening, and I believe wisely decided in approving of Mr King's line re Black Hill. The decision of adopting this road in preference to the Lower Whareama one was anxiously looked for, while there were not a few who looked upon Mr King's wonderful curves in getting an easy grade as absurd, and I have reason to believe this indefatigable engineer has been subject to great annoyance consequent upon his being faithful to his trust. However, I think all will in time acknowledge that this gentleman has been a friend to the district. Tenders, I see are now called for two miles of this road, so that there is every prospect of getting a good through road to Masterton by next Spring.
A topographical map with the Black Hill route represented very roughly by the power lines, which still follow the general direction of the old route. The Black Hill route starts on Bute Road as the road to Awadale airstrip.
Towards the bottom of the map is the present road, which winds past Te Paraetai (Penrose) and Tinui Downs (The Terraces) and passes the intersection of Bute Road with the Masterton-Castlepoint road.
The old Black Hill track visible in the middle of the photo