86 Transactions. 



situated. The upper Inangahua flows north-west, and crosses in its gorge 

 the best-known part of the gold-belt. This latter further extends some 

 distance to the south, passing over a low saddle into the watershed of the 

 Grey River. 



The district thus indicated lies in a valley between two granitic ranges — 

 the Paparoa Range on the west, and the. Victoria-Brunner Range on the 

 east. The Inangahua River receives in its course several tributaries, the 

 most important being on its right, or east, bank. The largest are the 

 Waitahu River, which joins it a few miles below Reefton, then Boatman's 

 and Larry's Creeks. In the gorge it receives on its right bank Lankey's 

 and Murray Creeks, and on its left Rainy and Devil's Creeks. These are 

 small mountain-streams, whose names are closely Unked with the early 

 history of the goldfield. 



The mountain-slopes from the 3,000 ft. level to the valley have been 

 for the most part heavily timbered, and still are in the less settled parts of 

 the district. But the forests are being rapidly destroyed to supply timber 

 for the mines and for other purposes, and to clear the land for grazing. 



The district is well watered by its numerous streams, and, in common 

 with other parts of the West Coast, it has an abundant rainfall. There 

 is more than sufficient water for mining purposes, and the available 

 water may still be turned to account as a source of power. The climate 

 is mild for the most part, though somewhat cold in winter, and the town 

 during that season is frequently enveloped for days at a time in a thick 

 low-lying fog. 



The district is connected with Greymouth by a forty-mile train service, 

 and with Westport by a coach via the Lyell. Nearly all of the Reefton 

 traffic goes by the former route. 



Previous Geological Work. 



The veins themselves have never been systematically examined since 

 their exploitation, which is a matter for regret both from an economic and 

 from a scientific standj^oint. The geology of the district has, however, 

 received some attention from Hector,* Cox,f and notably McKay.J The 

 last named also has some incidental references to the veins. Murray, in 

 a report on deep quartz-mining in New Zealand, § has also some notes on 

 the Reefton mines. The only other available information is contained 

 from year to year in the annual reports of the Mines Department. 



Geology. 



The district is bounded on both sides by granite massifs, in the Paparoa 

 Range and the Victoria and Brunner Ranges. The space between is 

 occupied by a belt of slates — the gold-bearing series, considered by Hector's 

 Geological Survey to be the equivalents of the Maitai series. || These slates 

 are mucli folded into a series of sharp anticlines and synclines. and also 

 much disturbed by faulting. The age of the slates is not definitely known. 

 They have been referred to the Carbohiferous, but may be much younger. 



*J. Hector, Reps. N.Z.G.S.. 1873-74. p. 85. 

 t S. H. Cox. " Geoloiiy of Westland." Reps. N.Z.G.S., 1875-70. 

 J A. McKay, "Geology of Reefton District," Reps. N.Z.G.S., 1882, p. 91. 

 § R. A. F. Murray, " Report on Deep Quartz-minina; in New Zealand," parliamentary 

 paper C.-6, 1894. 



li A. McKay, " Geology of Reefton District," Reps. N.Z.G.S., 1882, p. 132. 



