a—9

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in different places. In the south are the high terraces of the Teremakau Valley ; in the higher grounds of the New Biver Valley "Old man gravels," and in the lower grounds recent river alluvium. Between the lower part of the New Biver Valley and Saltwater Creek the highlevel marine deposits representing the Hauhau Lead are present, as they are farther to the north in the same line, or a little nearer the coast. In the valley of Saltwater Creek, in the low grounds about Butherglen, and thence to the saddle by which the road leads to Marsden, the auriferous deposits are river-wash, apparently due to a stream of greater volume and strength than with the rainfall could be collected at the present time from the drainage area of Saltwater Creek. Between Saltwater Creek and Greymouth there is a range of hills formed of "Old man bottom," and tertiary marine beds resting against the Cretaceo-tertiary limestones and the slopes of the Limestone Bange itself. All of these formations are auriferous except the two last. In the southern part of the two blocks creek-gravels, resting on " Old man bottom " or on the limestone of the Cobden Range (which is continued south across the New Biver to and beyond the boundary of Block VII.), is the main auriferous wash as far as Cameron's Terrace. In Fuschia Creek the auriferous wash in the low grounds is partly derived from glacier deposits, and partly from the gravels of the " Old man bottom " which form the range of hills between Fuschia Creek and the middle part of the New Biver Watershed. In the southern part of Block IX. are the limestone diggings in the right-hand branch of the New Biver, and the alluvial low grounds of the main valley itself. The whole of the area thus more particularly described is gold-bearing, and many important mining-centres have flourished on it. The beach, and inland of high-water mark to the first terrace, have been extensively worked from Greymouth to south of Saltwater Creek and the Teremakau. The Back Lead, immediately behind the sand-dunes piled along the high-water mark can yet be made a great source of wealth by dredging or other means of recovering the gold from depths, and conditions of water with which in the early days the digger could not cope. The development, or further working, of the higher terraces is necessarily dependent upon the amount of water that at a reasonable cost can be brought on to the ground. In working this class of ground patches and even whole leads overlooked in the early days are likely to be found, while at the same time the systematic working of the poorer ground will pay the costs of those who venture on the bringing on to the ground that which is necessary to effectually work it. In the shallower grounds, near and above Butherglen, moderate quantities of water and less elaborate appliances will, for the most part, suffice for the effectual working of the ground by small parties. Begavding the agricultural and pastoral capabilities of the block, near Greymouth, where the Limestone Bange has been denuded of timber, English grasses flourish well, also on the hills of tertiary-clay and sandy strata a little further south. As well as in the New Biver Valley the alluvial lands along the bottom of the valley may be cultivated or grassed at pleasure, these lands being of good quality. But, having said this much, all has been said that can be advanced in favour of the capacity of the block, for settlement, unless great cost is entered upon in the way of clearing of bush and tempering of the soil, to fit it for what may be designed. When all that can be done for the improvement of the soil is accomplished, there are the adverse conditions of climate to contend with, which man cannot alter, and it may safely be asserted that, whatever the final condition of these two blocks may be, for a long time to come their chief product must be gold, though gradually the area of land improved and rendered fit for grass or cultivation will be increased, and this will be due to the necessities of the settlers, not that such work will be done with a view to immediate profit. Block VIII.— -This includes areas within the upper part of the New Biver Watershed and the middle and upper parts of the Stillwater Creek, which lie on the opposite fall, and drains into the Grey Biver. There is also an area of 1,700 acres on the left bank of the Arnold Biver, which will have to be taken with Block VIII. The total area of the two blocks is 11,700 acres; the Stillwater and Maori Creeks area containing 10,000 acres. The agricultural and pastoral capabilities of the land in the upper part of the New Biver Watershed are very poor ; though in some places, towards the western end of this part of the block, cultivation (such as alluvial miners require) may be successfully undertaken, though at considerable cost. Farming would be out of the question. Near Maori Creek Township there is a paddock of cleared land which, after having some £500 spent on it in the way of clearing stumps and sowing the land with grasses during the past year, grew nothing but rushes to the great disgust of the proprietor. In the valley of the Stillwater, below Maori Gully, there are some lands that might be cultivated, but the area is small. As regards mining, there has, at one time, been a considerable population, both in Maori Creek (New Biver) and Maori Gully, within the Stillwater Watershed, and there are still a considerable number of miners engaged, but as they are scattered about in the different gullies, the casual visitor might think the number less than it really is. Block X. —This includes the low grounds between the Township of Boss and the Mikonui Biver, and the hilly country to the south forming the western slopes of Mount Greenland. Within these bounds are comprised the Boss Goldfield, celebrated for the amount of gold obtained from the more superficial working, and the greater depths of Boss Flat, during the first years of the rush, and still celebrated on account of the extensive hydraulic-sluicing works which are being carried on along the southern margin of Boss Flat, and on the lower slopes of the front hills overlooking the Flat. The block has a frontage to the sea of about two miles, from the mouth of the Mikonui Biver north ; thence the boundary goes inland in a south-east direction to the Town of Boss; and thence east and south-east to the Totara Biver. The greatest length of the block east and west is six miles; and the average breadth, at the Town of Boss, one mile and a half. The total area includes 5,000 acres. About one-third of the block is level land, lying between the front hills and the sea. This includes but the southern half of Boss Flat, the northern portion to the Totara Biver being outside