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strata; and in many districts extensive
land slips have so changed the appearance
of the country, that the present gullies
are often mere surface depressions, whilst
the true "gutters" are hidden beneath the
points or spurs of the adjacent hills; a
fact which has been amply demonstrated
on the Tuapeka Gold-fields.
All these
peculiarities tend to delay the progress of
discovery by misleading prospectors. But
as the miners become better acquainted
with the country, and observe the condi-
tions under which the gold drifts are to be
found here, there can be very little doubt
but that many localities hitherto deemed
unproductive, or but slightly auriferous,
will yet be worked with successful results.
There is now ample evidence that the
Gold-fields already opened are not merely
exceptional, or isolated patches as was, at
one time, supposed. From the Kakanui
Mountains to the Mataura River the same
geological indications are found to exist,
and the presence of gold over the whole of
the vast area comprised within these limits
has been so far ascertained as to induce the
belief that rich fields will, for some time to
come, be continuously discovered, and that
Otago is only now reaping the first fruits of
that golden harvest which awaits her in future
years.

VINCENT PYKE,
Commissioner of Gold Fields.
Dunedin, October 1st, 1862.

Note.—The probable extent of the auriferous
deposits in the districts comprised within the
limits of the Tuapeka gold-field can scarcely be
indicated with any degree of certainty. Hitherto
the gold workings have been entirely alluvial;
for although the quartz reefs at Waipori and
those in the Canada Bush, near Burnt Hill, on
the upper waters of the Tokomairiro River (south
branch) have been proved to contain gold, yet no
systematic search has been prosecuted, and we
are therefore not in a position to form any defi-
nite opinion as to their value; neither is it certain
that they are true lodes, such as are found in
other gold-producing countries. It is a remark-
able fact, however, as stated by experienced
miners, that the above reefs bear about 22 degrees
west of (magnetic) north, which corresponds with
the general bearing of the richest Victorian reefs.

The escorts for the month of October amount
to 26,990 ounces (irrespective of large quantities
of gold received from these fields by private
hands) which is equal to 6,747 ounces per week,
or an average of more than one ounce per man.
Official returns show that during the month
ending 17th October, Victoria, with 100,000
miners, only produced 132,246 ounces, equal to
33,060 ounces per week, or an average of little
more than 6½ dwts. per man.

The gold-fields of New South Wales, with a
mining population approximately estimated at
30,000, forwarded per escort on the 16th October,
6,988 ounces, and on the 23rd, 11,175 ounces, or
at the rate of about 9000 ounces per week, equal
to an average of 6 dwts. per man.

It is apparent therefore that Otago at the
present time is the most remunerative gold pro-
ducing country in the Southern Hemisphere.

If not in the world, and from reliable informa-
tion in my possession, I have reason to believe that
the results recorded above will be very much
surpassed during the coming summer; whilst in
the river workings discovered by Hartley and
Reilly, an ample field for winter operations has
been secured, in a region which possesses the ad-
ditional advantage of a fine dry climate.

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT.

Harbour Office,
Port Chalmers, 29th Sept., 1862.

His Honor Major Richardson,
Superintendent.

Sir—I do myself the honor to furnish
you with a Report relative to the present
state of the Harbours and Roadsteads in
the Province of Otago, and of the works
necessary in the same to meet the present
requirements, and to make provision for
the rapidly-increasing shipping trade to
our ports.

1st. At Oamaru there is a good coasting
trade carried on, and increasing. The
moorings laid down in the Bay have been
of great service to the smaller class of
vessels, and a Flagstaff has been erected
on the shore, by which means the Beach
Master is able to communicate with the
shipping. The management of the Surf
Boats is in the able hands of Captain
Sewell, who also acts as Beach Master,
and who continues to give every satisfac-
tion in all matters connected with the
shipping. For the accommodation and
safety of the vessels of a large tonnage
that occasionally visit this roadstead, I
would recommend that heavy outer moor-
ings should be laid down.

2nd. Moeraki is a superior roadstead to
that of Oamaru, possessing a Boat Har-
bour, well sheltered, in which the beach
is perfectly smooth, except in heavy S.E.
weather, which does not occur more than
(20) twenty days throughout the year;
yet no advantage is taken of this harbour.
The settlers in the locality do not seem to
give encouragement to shipping,* the
steamer "Geelong" being the only vessel
calling there, and that only from necessity
—to comply with the terms of contract.

The want of an outlet from the Boat
Harbour to the township of Hampden and
surrounding district, I believe to be the
cause. As soon, therefore, as a road is
opened up, I would recommend that the
errection of the Jetty in contemplation,
should be proceeded with, for which the
most convenient site would be in the
north shore of the Boat Harbour, and

• A road is now under construction, which was
  absolutely necessary to enable the settlers to
  approach the Harbour.