C—3,

80

The Mikonui Subdivision of North Westland, in which Mr. Morgan has carried on most of his work, is a large area, consisting in a great measure of extremely rugged mountainous country. The excessive rainfall and the absence of transport facilities add to the difficulties of survey-work in this region. Though a considerable portion of the subdivision has been geologically surveyed during the year, it- is probable that part of another season will be required to complete the work in this area. Mr. Morgan reports the universal occurrence of alluvial gold in small quantities at the head of the Hokitika and other streams traversing the mountainous hinterland of the subdivision. Many quartz reefs were located by Mr. Morgan, the majority of which appear to be barren, 'though a few give more or less promise. Indications of copper and other metals were seen, but the metals were nowhere found to exist in payable quantity. In connection with the Pounamu or serpentine formation, small pockets of asbestos of good quality were noted in several localities. Mr. Morgan also reports the occurrence in the Mikonui Subdivision of various building and ornamental stones, such as granite, serpentine, limestone, basalt, &c. Mr. Colin Fraeer. — During the past year Mr. Colin Fraser, Mining Geologist, was occupied chiefly in geological field-work in the Coromandel Subdivision of the Hauraki Division, and in the Hokitika Subdivision of North Westland. In addition to this he was engaged at headquarters for several months assisting in the preparation of Bulletin No. 1, and in general office-work. The area now under examination by this officer is a very interesting one, consisting geologically of old stratified and folded rocks overlain by Tertiary voleanics extravasated at several different periods, and exhibiting frequently great alteration by hydrothermal agencies. Of great interest in structural geology is the discovery by Mr. Fraser of identifiable fossils in the upper members of the older sedimentary rocks of the Hauraki Peninsula. Identification of these fossil forms will probably demonstrate that die upper l>eds of the folded complex are of lesser antiquity than has heretofore been supposed. Mr. Fraser reports fully on the gold-silver quartz veins and other mineral resources of the Coromandel Subdivision investigated by him, but as it is expected that he will be able to prepare a bulletin for publication during the coming session of Parliament, further reference to this branch of his work may for the present be omitted. Mr. 11. P. Greville. —Mr. 11. P. Greville, Topographer, was engaged during the early part of the year in executing surveys in the rugged interior of North Westland, and in the Wilberforce District, Canterbury. During the winter he was occupied in compiling his maps at headquarters. At the beginning of spring he proceeded to Parapara, and organized survey parties under Mr. X M Graham, the newly appointed Assistant Topographer, and Mr. A. J. Whitehorn, Senior Chainman. Early in October Mr. Greville took charge of the Geological Survey exhibit at the New Zealand International Exhibition, and towards the close of the year he continued the topographical survey in the Mikonui Subdivision, in which he had been engaged at the end of the previous season. In his report Mr. Greville gives a general account of the topographical-survey work executed by him and makes particular reference to the possibilities of the Toaroha River as a source of water-power, which could be utilised throughout the whole of North Westland. Reference to tins was also made in my report for the year 1905. Temporary Assistance. At the beginning of the year Professor James Park, Director of the Otago School of Mines, was engaged in the Alexandra Subdivision of Central Otago. A bulletin on this area from the pen of Professor Park was presented to Parliament during last session. This summer he is engaged on the geological survey of the Cromwell Subdivision of Western Otago. Mr D V Allen, Director of the Coromandel School of Mines, was engaged for a period of six weeks during 'the summer vacation of 1905-6, to assist Mr. Colin Fraser in the Coromandel Subdivision, and carried out a geological examination in the Cabbage Bay district. Mr_ Allen has been engaged for a similar period during the present summer, and at the time of writing is occupied in the detailed survey of the Whangapoua Valley. Geological Sukvbt Exhibit at the New Zealand International Exhibition. During the year it was decided to prepare a Geological Survey exhibit for the New Zealand International Exhibition at Christchurch. Owing to the very short time at our disposal it was ciuite impossible, with the limited material available, to collect an exhibit at all representative of the widely varied and extensive mineral wealth of New Zealand, and it was therefore considered advisable to confine the exhibit mainly to minerals and rocks of economic value for the area in which a geological survey had been conducted—namely, the Hokitika Subdivision of North Westland Our efforts, however, were considerably hampered not only through want of time but also owing to the difficulty of obtaining specimens from, the mountainous hinterland of Westland at a season when all the high country is covered with snow. However, a collection fairly representative of the mineral wealth of the Hokitika area was obtained, and with this were