Ponp.—On the Presence of Nickel in the Auckland District, 455 
now made a careful research in all specimens to hand in which there were 
indieations of this metal, and having made a quantitative examination, I 
herewith append it. The amount obtained is small, in no instance realizing 
one per cent., but the consciousness of its presence in the distriet will 
perhaps induce some of the settlers to more carefully note the mineral lodes 
in their neighbourhood, probably with the result of the discovery of larger 
quantities of the metal in question. The following are the localities where 
found, and the percentage in which it is present. 
1. Loose stones obtained at Mahurangi, apparently of serpentine rock, 
and composed of silieate of magnesia, in which nickel is present in small 
and variable amounts. 
2. Portions of a large rock-mass of serpentine outcropping in the 
direction of the Hotea from Mahurangi; in this I have found the largest 
amount of nickel, it being present to the extent of 49 per cent. 
3. Serpentine obtained from a small stream near the North Manukau, 
Head in which nickel realized :47 per cent. 
4. Caleite from Matakohe, stained in a peculiar manner with the 
hydrated silicate of nickel; the stone attached to the calcite is of the char- 
acter mentioned in No. 1. 
5. Hard greenstone from Papakura Valley, giving a trace of copper and 
nickel to the extent of -26 per cent. 
6. Green unctuous clay from Waipu of a very peculiar character. In 
this I antieipated a larger proportion of nickel, but was disappointed, it 
being present only to the amount of :11 per cent. The colour of this clay 
is due, as in most of the other instances named, to protoxide of iron. 
7. Foliated serpentine from Coromandel, in which there is a trace of 
nickel present. 
The probability of this metal existing in larger quantities is, I think, 
very great, as but little time or attention has been devoted to the work of 
prospecting for other than the precious metals, and it is only through a 
careful examination of all minerals found that we can hope to have any 
success in the research. Respecting the probabilities of nickel being 
found in payable amounts, I would note that the deposits in New Caledonia 
of a silicate of this metal which have lately come into such notoriety are 
found in crevices in the serpentine rocks, and, as I have already remarked, 
my two largest results have been from serpentine ; nor is it peculiar to this 
part of the world that it should be so situated, as Dana mentions several 
instances in which nickel is found in this rock. The efforts of a thorough 
research in the district between Mahurangi and Whangarei, through to the 
West Coast, may be well repaid should a body of stone containing a low 
. percentage even be found, as in America ore containing only three per 
