466 Netv Zeakmd Institute. 



greenstone, by Mr. J. White; and specimens of Japanese paper-string, etc., 

 by Mr. H. S. Tiffen, of Napier. 



Minerals. — During the past year, about 300 specimens of minerals and 

 rocks have been collected by the officers of the Geological Department. 

 Among them are collections obtained by the Director, illustrating the progress 

 of various mining ventures on the West Coast ; from the Thames Gold-field, 

 White Island, and Tuhua ; and from the newly-discovered coal-fields on the 

 west coast of the North Island. The Director also collected a number of 

 mineral specimens of considerable interest during an examination of the 

 auriferous district north of the Wakatipu Lake, in which quartz-reefing 

 evinces a renewal of its former activity. Mr. Cox brought a collection of 

 rocks from the Greenstone Eiver, on Lake Wakatipu, and also several 

 specimens of copper ore and magnetite from D'Urville Island. A very 

 interesting and unique form of copper ore has also been obtained from 

 Aniseed Valley, in connection with the Dun Mountain mineral belt, consist- 

 ing of a granular serpentine, containing about 5 per cent, of metallic copper, 

 dispersed through the mass of the rock in fine grains. This discovery, if 

 followed up, may perhaps lead to some rich copper deposit, but at present 

 it does not appear to be of much commercial importance. The greater 

 number of the remaining specimens were collected by Mr. McKay from the 

 mountainous district lying between Nelson and the Wairau Eiver, and from 

 various points along the Mount Arthur range. Amongst these are some 

 valuable specimens of brown haematite from Mount Peel, containing 54 

 per cent, of metallic iron. This ore is associated with fine-grained breccias, 

 dark slates, weathering white, and heavy beds of compact blue crystalline lime- 

 stone, which overlie the great series of breccia beds and conglomerates which 

 form the western part of the Mount Arthur range. It is largely developed 

 in a north-westerly dnection from Mount Arthur, striking in the du-ection 

 of the ranges west of the Takaka Valley. At the place where the specimens 

 were obtained, the bed might be about 50 feet thick, besides which isolated 

 masses 10 feet to 15 feet across were observed occurring in the dark slates. 

 North of the Takaka Eiver a much greater development of the ore takes 

 place, and diggers who have visited the locality report the deposit as being 

 about a mile in width. It is probable that this deposit of brown haematite is 

 a continuation of the Parapara ore ; and, the specimens brought being taken 

 from the surface, this ore when sunk upon will most probably change to red 

 haematite, which, when pure, would contain about 70 per cent, of iron. 

 Mr. M'Kay followed up this deposit for about three miles. Marbles of 

 various qualities are represented from the Mount Arthur range, together 

 with granites, hornblendic, eruptive, and serpentinous rocks associated with 

 the Upper and Lower Silurian beds. To the same period should probably 



