in consequence of Mount Egmont intercepting our view. The above block encompasses two beautiful grass plains or swamps of considerable extent, appearing about 50 miles distant in an inland direction from the Settlement of N. P. which we considered to be those spoken of by Mr. Maclean as laying in his course between Wanganui and Taupo and standing from our present situation on this range E.S.E. from the same place we took the following observations. Sugar loaves N.B.W. Tongaredo summit covered by clouds E.N.E. Rawai point and Wangaroa N.B.E. We found as we expected a considerable quantity of grass on the highest lands in this range of mountains and most decidedly the finest land we have yet met with in the country. The soil being 2 feet deep and an excellent subsoil, therefore it cannot be doubted, but if this land was used as a pasturage it would increase amazingly in quantity, it would however require cattle and sheep of a hardy nature to stand the cold and wind, and almost continual moisture. One of the natives has just discovered that he has lost the telescope and is now returned to search for it, this delay will prevent us from ascending the Mountain this afternoon - therefore all hands set to work collecting grass scrub etc. to make a fire that our friends may know our whereabouts. Soon after the native coming up with the glass we moved towards the Mountain descending one of the Middle range torrent courses, in our usual way, either on our hands or knees being quite impossible to effect a passage thro the scrub which was densely thick on every side sheltered from the S.W. winds. From the frequent land slips we had an excellent opportunity of examining the soil at various depths which with other likely places we attentively examined for the existance of lodes etc; but astonishing to relate