270

THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

I began in the immediate neighbourhood
of the town of Nelson, by a short excursion
to Brook-street valley, and a visit to Mr.
Jenkin's brown coal mine. I then pro-
ceeded 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 up 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 preceeded 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 Rich-
mond and the Wairoa Valley.

After I had made myself acquainted with
the geological relations of the nearer lying
districts of Golden and Blind Bays, arrange-
ments 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 explora-
tions. I therefore availed myself of the
friendly co-operation of my friend and
companion, Mr. T. 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 Maraetai bight, examined
the coast as far as Waikawa, and proceeded
overland to Waitohi; thence by the Waitohi
pass along the Tua Marina to the Wairau
plain; thence by the Taylor's 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 conceru-
ing 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 Wanga-
peka 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.

I have much to thank my Nelson friends
for, both in the way of information and
contribution to my collections, and am at
the same time indebted to the various
gentlemen who, in a spirit of friendship,
accompanied me on my journeys.

My best thanks are also due to the
various settlers, in whose houses I have
found such hospitable quarters. May I be
allowed, without mentioning individual
names, to express my most sincere thanks
to all these gentlemen for their active
assistance and valuable contributions to the
Novara collections.

I have begun to put together on a map
the results of my observations, with the view
of laying the foundation of a Geological
Map of the Province of Nelson. So soon
as time will allow me to complete this map, I
will hand over to you a copy of it with
the pleasure; at the same time expressing a
wish that the numerous friends of geology
among you, and if they will allow me to say
it, my geological scholars here, may continue
it and improve it, where I, either from want
of time or inaccessibility of the district, have
not been able to fill in the details.

I will now come to the subject matter of
my lecture.

I.—PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The character of the surface is always
more or less indicative of the geological
structure of a country. Even to those who
have not deeply studied the science, the