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entirely new one. Entering into Blind Bay upon a bright morning, I saw all round me lofty snow-covered mountain chains. It was the middle of winter, and I doubted whether at this season of the year extended geological researches were possible. This doubt was soon removed: the glorious weather which favoured my excursions gave me full confidence in the far-famed and deservedly-praised Nelson climate. My first exploration opened up to me a field at once so interesting as regards scientific research, and at the same time of so great practical importance, from the existence of those very valuable substances, gold, coal, and copper, that, in order to give greater value to the results of my observations, I willingly resolved to respond to the wish of the inhabitants, and to remain a month longer among you.

I feel myself in the highest degree obliged to the inhabitants of this province, who, so soon as the Novara arrived in Auckland, invited the members of the expedition to visit Nelson, for the honourable and hospitable reception, and for the active assistance in the prosecution of my objects, which I have met with on all sides; and I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to the Provincial Government for the admirable arrangements which on its part were made, so as to extend to the utmost limit the sphere of my explorations, and enable me to occupy to the greatest advantage the limited time at my disposal.

Allow me, before proceeding further, to give you an account of my different journeys, and to detail to the places which I have visited.

I began in the immediate neighbourhood of the town of Nelson, by a short excursion to Brook-street-valley, and a visit to Mr. Jenkins' brown coal mine. I then proceeded in the Tasmanian Maid, which the Government had chartered for this extra trip, to Croixelles Harbour and Current Basin, and examined the veins of copper ore which show themselves there.

We proceeded upon Current Basin as far as the French Pass, and on our return landed in the bight of Owhaua, on the south-eastern corner of D'Urville's Island, where copper ore is also found. From thence we steamed without loss of time, during the night, across to Golden Bay, where I went on shore at Collingwood, and visited the gold-fields and the bone-caves of the Aorere valley. Thence I proceeded along the coast to Pakawau, and examined the coal-field there, and the graphite which is found in the hill at Taumatea. Returning overland from Golden Bay to Nelson, I visited, on the way, the Parapara gold-field, the brown coal deposit at Motupipi, followed the course of the Takaka valley upwards, crossed the mountain range that divides the Takaka and Riwaka valleys, and passing through Motueka reached Nelson by the Moutere and the Waimea. Another day was devoted to an examination of the Boulder Bank and the Arrow Rock. I next proceeded by the valley of the Maitai to an examination of the Dun Mountain. I then visited the Wakapuaka district and the Happy Valley; and, at a later date, in an opposite direction, spent some time in examining the fossiliferous schists of Richmond and the Wairoa valley.

After I had made myself acquainted with the Geological relations of the nearer lying districts of Golden and Blind Bays, arrangements were made for a more distant excursion in a southerly direction, to the Wangapeka and the Lake country, and in an easterly direction towards the Pelorus, the Wairau, and the Awatere valley. My time was too limited to enable me personally to undertake both these geological explorations. I therefore availed myself of the friendly co-operation of my friend and companion, Mr. J. Haast, who has hitherto accompanied me on all my journeys in New Zealand. My friend Haast proceeded by the Tasmanian Maid to Queen Charlotte Sound, landed in Mararae bight, examined the coast as far as Waikawa, and proceeded overland to Waitohi; thence by the Waitohi pass along the Tun Marina to the Wairau plain; thence by the Taylor pass, Mr. Haast proceeded to the Awatere, returning by Maxwell's pass to the Wairau. After an examination of the Waihopai valley, he proceeded through the Kaituna to the Pelorus, and returned by the Pelorus road to Nelson. I am indebted in the highest degree to my friend Haast for the interesting and important information which he has communicated to me concerning this region, and for the disinterested zeal and the ability with which he carried out his task of contributing to a knowledge of the geological relations of the country visited, and also for a valuable addition to my collections.

I myself took my way in a southerly direction towards the Motueka and Wangapeka valleys; crossed the chain of hills to the Buller river; followed this upwards to the Rotoiti lake; from thence made my way to the Top House, in the Wairau valley, and returned by the Big Bush to Nelson.

I am thus enabled to say, that it has been possible for me to obtain a general geological view over the whole of the northern half of the Province of Nelson, from the Awatere valley, on the east, to the Aorere valley, on the west; while the cross valley of the Buller river, between the Rotoiti lake and the gorge of the western mountain chain, indicates the southerly limit of the district explored.