and has a general westerly course of 23 miles to the Mataura; of which it is one of the principal tributaries. It generally runs broad and shallow on a rocky bed, through some pretty valleys well supplied with wood; but the country around is still so rough and scrubby as to make travelling rather difficult.

The other main tributaries of the Mataura in this district are the Waikaia and Waikaka. The former was not examined to its head, but the latter is formed of two branches, running generally in fine, alluvial, grassy flats. The remaining streams are still smaller, and require no particular notice.

The Lakes in these districts are the Tuakitoto, Kaitangata, Waihola, and Waipori, situated in the valley adjacent to the coast. They are all at so low a level as to be affected by the tide; are very shallow, and are probably gradually silting up. The two first are connected, and have their outlet by the Clutha, and the other two have their outlets by the Taieri river.

The only Swamps deserving particular notice are the tussock swamps of the Taieri plain, which appear to be only a few feet above the sea, and so nearly on a dead level as to render improvement by drainage impossible without expensive artificial appliances. The middle of Inch Clutha is also low, flat, and swampy; but both it and the Taieri plain are said to become perceptibly drier every year.

In the southern parts of the district are numerous small patches of peat bog, seldom extending to more than 40 or 50 acres. A quantity of peats were dug and stacked this season at one of these bogs near Mr. Chalmers’ station; they seemed of fair quality, and will form a cheap substitute for wood as fuel.

The Harbours along the coast are only adapted for small vessels, they are at the mouths of the Clutha, Taieri, and Waikawa rivers. The latter I have not seen, but it is said to be accessible for vessels of 200 to 300 tons. The mouth of Catlin’s river has been known as a boat harbour; but, judging from a distant view, I think it may probably be found suitable for coasting craft also: there seemed to be no break of surf across the entrance. The only roadsteads hitherto used are, Molyneux and Tautuku bays, which have good holding ground, sheltered from westerly winds.

The Geological formations of the district appear to belong to the primary and transition periods, except on such places as the basins of the Pomahaka and Mataura, Tokomairiro, Coal point, and some other places where sedimentary deposits of a very recent date are met with. The eastern portion, from the coast to the Manuherikia, appears to be composed almost entirely of rocks belonging to the mica schist systems. Towards the south-west, clay slate and altered rocks appear at Tapanui, the lower part of the Pomahaka, and the Clutha, below the Tuapeka. South-west of the Kaihiku ranges, a hard compact sandstone is common. It appears to be a good building stone, is of a dingy brown colour, and in some places splits into good flags. It seems to have been driven up by some disturbing cause into the sharp ridges and conical hills so peculiar to this part of the country. The curious crested summits seem to have been caused by the strata breaking at the ridge. All these ridges where sharp and well-defined, are found to be almost exactly parallel to each other, ranging W.N.W. and E.S.E. nearly.

The Kaihiku ranges have also this general direction, and appear to be formed of the same rock in a more altered state. Clay slate and conglomerate also occur in several places among these ranges. Fragments of granite are found on the surface and in the streams, but were not observed to crop out anywhere; no igneous rocks of any kind having been met with except the whinstone, in the neighbourhood of Dunedin. Considerable beds of coals or lignite occur in various parts of the district. The principal deposits are found on the coast at Coal Point, and in the Pomahaka, Tokomairiro, and Tuakitoto valleys; it is said also to be found about Saddle Hill and the Mataura, and some drift pieces were picked up in the bed of the Waikaka. Pieces of gum or resin are found imbedded in this formation; also half-bitumenized wood and branches of trees. There is generally only a bed of loose conglomerate between it and the superficial deposits; in one place it was observed to rest on a bluish clay, full of impressions of bi-valve shells similar to those to be found on the present shores. This clay was incrusted with white crystals having an astringent taste like alum, so that it may probably

• Coal is now being worked at the mouth of the Clutha River, and arrangements have been made for its regular shipment to Dunedin.