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arranged numerous framed enlarged photographs illustrative of the mining industry, and also of the wonderful scenery of North Westland. In addition to this special district exhibit, the Geological Survey displayed two large maps —one of the North Island and the other of the South Island—indicating the separate localities in which minerals of economic importance are known to occur. General Office-work. Correspondence. —The correspondence of the Department has grown considerably during the past year. This is largely due to the interest taken by the public of New Zealand, and of the outside world, in the work of the Geological Survey, as well as to the fact that the field staff has been greatly increased. Numerous specimens of rocks and minerals have been identified by officers of the Department at headquarters, and brief reports have been written in connection with most of them. Publications.—'This, year, two bulletins, in addition to the annual report which was published in Parliamentary Paper C.—3, 1906, have been issued by the Geological Survey. No. 1, written by myself with the assistance of Mr. Colin Fraser, bears the title " The Geology of the Hokitika Sheet, North Westland Quadrangle : with which has been included a Small Portion of the Upper Wilberforce Valley in the Waimakariri Quadrangle." Bulletin No. 2, written by Professor James Park, and based on the results of his geological examinations during the summer months of 1905-6, is entitled " The Geology of the Area, covered by the Alexandra Sheet, Central Otago Division." Maps. During the year the draughtsmen have compiled the maps accompanying Bulletins Nos. 1 and 2, as well as the two large mineral maps of the North and South Islands, exhibited at the New Zealand International Exhibition. J. M. Belt., Director, Geological Survey.

Mr. Warden Burgess to the Under-Secretakt for .Mines, Wellington. g IT[( Warden's Office, Queenstown, 30th April, 1907. I have the honour to forward herewith a general report on mining in the several sub districts under my charge for the year ended 31st December, 1906. Queenstown. Mining in this portion of the district has been confined almost entirely to the alluvial claims on the Shotover River. Only one dredge has been at work—viz., the one at Maori Point on tht Shotover River, but operations have only been moderately successful.

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