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dea[v]our[ed] to describe the features of the eastern range of the Shotover Gorge, about two miles from Queenstown, and could instance many parts where the same features exist. The schist rocks at the summit of this hill are laminated horizontally, or nearly so; in descending to the first of these ledges a dip towards the gorge is perceived, the irregularity increases as a further descent is made; till at the bottom of the hill the rocks are tilted over, forming with the debris a chaotic mass. On my first observing these ledges on the mountain slopes, I was led to believe them to have been formed by the effect of running water; but in this case they would be longitudinally in a

SKETCH

Section as deduced from surface indications.

horizontal position, whereas they lie obliquely. Gold has in many instances been found upon these shelves.

6. Talcose Landslips.—On the western range of the Shotover Valley, and about five miles northward of the junction of Monk Creek, and some three miles from the Shotover, a landslip of stupendous magnitude exists, by which the entire half of the mountain has fallen in for a distance of about a mile in length, forming an immense precipice many hundred feet in depth, the ground below being a confused state of debris. This gives rise to two minor creeks, which, meandering into one, form one of the minor tributaries of the Shotover. I am not aware if gold has been obtained in this gully, as I could find no way of approaching it from the position at which I stood, but many similar landslips exist, at the bases of which auriferous deposits have been made, which on discovery have proved to be extremely rich. It is difficult to account for this phenomenon but by admitting that gold is contained in the fissures of the slate rock, which, if not a matrix of gold, has by some means become the repository of it. Having been accustomed to regard quartz as the only matrix, (a theory that in Victoria I never heard disputed) I embrace with reluctance any contrary opinion, but when I see the richest workings in the river beds immediately at the base of these landslips, and in many instances with the entire absence of quartz, I must draw the conclusion that auriferous deposits are found by degradation of the slate rocks as well as from disintegration of the quartz lodes.

7. Nature of the S[h]ist Rocks.—In passing through the Dunstan district on my journey up, I observed a great pecu-

liarity in the lamination of the slate which appeared in alternate layers of slate and quartz: the same formation exists in this locality, but not to so great an extent. The schist for the most part is highly micaceous and very friable when raised; often wavy in structure, of a deep grey colour; contains but little of argillaceous or silicious matter, and magnetic iron appears to enter but slightly into its composition. There are parts, however, where the rock is harder, and contains more silex and metallic traces. Where this is the case, small quartz reins appear, the largest of which that I have seen, is above Bergen’s Bridge, at Skipper’s. This measures about eighteen inches through, and is nearly vertical. I have been informed of the existence of an auriferous reef at Skipper’s, but was not able to find it, though I walked over some fifteen miles of the roughest country in the district for that purpose. I am, however, inclined to believe that very rich veins will ultimately be found on the western watershed of the