SHOTOVER MINING REPORT.

THE following Report of Mr. Mining Surveyor Wright, on the Shotover District (Wakatipu Gold Field), is published for general information:—

Thomas Dick, Provincial Secretary.

Frankton, Wakatipu,
June 30th, 1863.

SIR—Having filled the office of Mining Surveyor to this district for only a period of three months, and having during that time been much engaged in special surveys, I have not been able to make myself so conversant with the various Gold Fields Statistics as I could desire. I have, however, had many opportunities of observing the physical peculiarities of the place to which I have the honor to call your attention.

2. Every part of this district through which I have travelled, is characterised by exceedingly bold and rugged features, forming lofty mountain ranges which in general lie in groups of parallel chains, their direction being nearly meridional, and their summits presenting sinuous lines of abrupt ridges so narrow in many parts as not to admit of being traversed. These mountain chains are separated from each other by deep longitudinal ravines, through which flow the principal rivers of the district. These, as they wind through lofty terraces and rock-bound gorges, receive in their course the many tributary streams that rise in the adjacent hills. The general bearing of these is about south-east or south-west, according to which side of the river they fall. All the country lying between the Cardrona and the western shores of the Wakatipu Lake, answers to this description.

3. The features here alluded to are, however, intercepted by a transverse formation in that portion of the Lake and adjacent ranges, which runs in an easterly direction, together with the extensive terraced plains between Frankton and the Arrow River, the whole of which bear evident indications of having been the bed of the Lake itself. These, together with the Kawarau River, form a valley which runs nearly east and west to the Molyneux. On the south side of this valley, however, the meridional chains and parallel ravines again exist; for instance, the “Remarkables,” and the Valley of the Peninsula, the ranges west of the southern portion of the Lake, and the lake itself, the Nevis Valley, and others of similar formation.

4. I have found so great a similarity in the geological features of the gold-bearing portions of the district that I will confine my present remarks to the Shotover and its tributaries, and to that portion which lies between the junction of Skipper’s and Arthur’s Point, as it embraces every feature of interest that I am acquainted with in the neighbourhood.

5. Volcanic Origin.—Although I have never witnessed any peculiarity bearing indications of volcanic action having been in force since the existing drift deposits were formed, yet the whole face of the country indicates the effect of powerful internal convulsions, as a general upheaval of the earth’s crust, and a corresponding subsidence must have taken place to have formed the peculiar lines and marks which are everywhere seen on the hill sides. These have the appearance of grades or ledges of rock, and though covered in a great measure with earthy deposits (the result of degradation and decay), are sufficiently defined to justify the conclusion that their peculiarities are the result of volcanic, and not of aqueous action. In the accompanying sketch I have em-

SKETCH

Section as deduced from

Surface indications.

[Sketch of Alluvial layers showing:

• Alluvial
• Old Alluvial
• Tertiary Gravel Beds]