metallic ores may be sought to the main
central range above described, the Kaimanawa range in the Taupo country
and the Aorangi range at Cape Palliser,
save and except the chances of finding
gold below, or in, the drift of the Wairarapa and the West Coast.

On the 26th of January, I returned to
Wellington, with the expectation of finding a report from Melbourne, upon specimens of rocks which I had sent there for
examination; in this I was disappointed,
and as I had a little time to spare before
the arrival of another mail, and found
that some curiosity existed as to the results of a recent journey to the top of
Tararua, by the valley of Wai Ngawa, I
proceeded to Greytown on February 3rd,
with the intention of making the ascent
of that mountain.

However, after several days attempt to
get hands to accompany me, I found that
owing to the harvest and the bush fires
I could neither get white men nor Maories
to undertake the journey at this time.
Mr. Thos. Kempton, who offered to go
as guide, gave me however a very clear
and intelligent account of his late journey.
He appears to have travelled up the bed
of the Wai Ngawa for three days, before
emerging from the bush, and at a great
incline, he thinks often three feet rise for
four in advance. He then came out upon
a grass country, extending to the top of
the mountain, the vegetation consisting
of a new sort of tussac, the common
spear grass and the broad leaved spear
grass (no doubt the “Spaniard” of the
Middle Island) and wild parsley, which
I suppose to be anise. To any one who
knows the Middle Island the vegetation
speaks for itself. He had reached the
zone of grass, above the usual forest
zone.

Arrived at the top he saw range after
range to the Westward, of the same
character, with bald grassy tops above the
forest zone, and apparently nearly, if not
quite, of the same height as the range on
which he stood which shut out the view
of the West Coast.

It is evident enough that the grass
country must be covered with snow all
winter. If it can be made of use, Mr.
Kempton recommends a line to be cut
into it by a leading spur opposite Ray’s.
On the descent he found out a better
line of road which would shorten the ascent by a day. He describes the rocks
as similar to those of the Rimutaka hill.
As all the rivers on that side of the
Rimutaka and Tararua bring down similar
gravel, this was to be expected, as the
parallelism of the formations is obvious.

During this journey I felt two shocks
of earthquake. One on February 4th
in the Upper Hutt, about 7. 15. a. m. the
other on the 7th at Greytown, about 2. 50.
p. m. Both were rather smart shocks.

On my return to Wellington on the
9th I found the expected report from
Melbourne had arrived, a consideration
of which I will reserve for a separate
communication.

I have honor to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
JAMES C. CRAWFORD
Government Geologist.

II.
REPORT ON MR. R. BROUGH SMYTH’S
“NOTES ON THE SPECIMENS OF ROCKS
COLLECTED IN THE PROVINCE OF WELLINGTON.”

To His Honor
I. E. Featherston,
Superintendent of the Province
of Wellington.

Wellington, February 14th, 1863.

SIR,—In forwarding to you a copy of
a report which I have received from Mr.
Brough Smyth, of Melbourne, on specimens of rocks sent by me for examination,
from various parts of this Province,
I shall take the opportunity to point out
what my plan of operations has been,
and also show wherein I agree with Mr.
B. Smyth’s very able and valuable
suggestions, and where, from causes of
which he would necessarily be unacquainted, his views cannot perhaps be
carried out.

In proceeding with the Geological Survey of the Province I have thought it
advisable, first of all, to obtain a general
knowledge of the whole rock formations
within its limits; so that when it became
necessary to employ men upon the Survey,
I might be able to go on with continuous
work; otherwise they might have been
frequently unemployed, waiting for me
to know in what direction to turn.

The kind offer of the Honorable G. S.
Evans, Postmaster General in Victoria,
to submit specimens of our rocks to the
“Savans” in Melbourne for examination,
came in aid of my views, and is the
more useful, as we have no analytical
chemist in this Province, and that, should
I attempt to assay minerals myself, it
would take up much time, probably the
results could not be relied upon, and even
the necessary reagents and laboratory