an ounce in the hands of any one. Knowing that gold had been found, I paid some attention to the subject at various localities. The spots where I actually tried the sands and rocks for gold were on the Upper Mataura, to the north of the Dome Mountain; on the Aparima near Taringtura Hill; in the Orawia near Grassburn; and on the Waiau near the Limestone Gorge. The trials (and they must be admitted to be very imperfect) were made by washing the sands in our pannikins, these being the best utensils for the purpose in our possession, and by digging in the chinks of the rocks and scooping out the sand and mud with our knives. In all our attempts we were unsuccessful in finding the metal; but I must not omit to mention of one of my assistants having reported the obtaining one speck in the Waiau sands. Amongst the sands of the Waiau, the residue consisted of black grains, not unlike oxide of tin, and a few small crystals not unlike the garnet. The above black grains are also found in the Mataura.

Having never visited a gold-field, I can personally offer little to the Board which may claim their dependence; but if we proceed upon the information given by geologists, I would point to the districts of the Hokanui Hills, to the Slate Ranges, and to the valleys of the Mataura and Waiau, as being probably auriferous. In these districts quartz is disseminated amongst the cherty, schistose, and slaty rocks that abound; and the quartz, when found on the surface, is much intermixed with peroxide of iron. These are frequently the indications of gold-fields, and have been mentioned to me as often obtaining in the gold-fields of Australia. On reference to Professor Ansted’s opinions on the subject, I find him concurring in the same; thus, in his work on Geology are the following remarks:—“The rocks in which gold is found are very variable, including granites, slates, schists, and even limestones. The alluvial deposits, containing particles of the metal, and most prolific when sifted and washed, are quartz sands with iron.”—(Ansted’s Geology, page 226.) The intervening rivers, viz., the Makerewa, Oreti, Aparima, and Otautau, do not possess the above indications. If, therefore, the authorities should at any time deem the subject to wear so important an aspect as to call for active measures in the matter, I would point to the North Waiopai Plains and Upper Mataura as being the most promising fields of trial. The objections that I have heard stated by practical “diggers” as to the successful pursuit of the metal, is, in “washing,” the frequent freshes; and in “sinking,” the depth of the bottoms and porous nature of the strata to be gone through. These difficulties, no doubt, were sufficient inducements offering, ingenuity and perseverance would overcome; but the process appears to call for greater means than are generally possessed by individuals in this Province.

The existence of other metals I had few opportunities of ascertaining, as stated before. Small veins of iron exist on the Dome Mountain, but in so slight thicknesses as not to require further attention.

Whilst on the subject of minerals, though it be going beyond the range of my own observations, it will not be improper for me to mention that the settlers at Jacob’s River, who frequented the West Coast for many years, report that in many of the Sounds, Coal and Copper are abundant.

**PASTURAGE.***

The subject of Pasturage appears to me to be as important as any to this part of the Province of Otago. The natural grasses are always found to grow in bunches known by the name of tussocks, and these tussocks vary in colour and dimensions with the qualities of the soil and nature of climate. In the lower and moister districts near the sea, the tussocks are sombre coloured, varying from red to brown, and attain considerable dimensions, rising above the ground at times to the height of 4 and even 5 feet. In the higher and drier districts the tussocks are light coloured and small, affording fine and soft pasture. The exception to the above rule is in the limestone districts, which invariably afford pasture of superior quality wherever situated. The pasturage, generally speaking, is to be found adapted for cattle near the sea, and for sheep in the interior.

Commencing with the Waiopai and Mataura plains, in the vicinity of the Waiopai and Waikivi creeks, the grass consists entirely of coarse, dull coloured tussock, often rank and abundant, but at other places much overgrown with

• The whole of this district has since been taken up for Sheep Runs.