466 Geology of 



GrOLD. 



On page 264, I have already given a description of the interlamin- 

 ations and smaller aggregations of quartz, in the Waihao formation, 

 which to a certain extent are auriferous, and of a few reefs found in 

 the same series of beds. Besides the small samples of gold obtained 

 in the Upper Waihao, washed from little patches of alluvium, there is 

 not the least doubt that, from the disintegration of the rocks of the 

 same formation, forming the eastern watershed of the Southern Alps, 

 gold in small quantities has been liberated, as evidenced by the fine 

 scaly gold obtained from some rivers of the Mackenzie Country. 



However, the necessary conditions for the formation of a payable 

 goldfield have in all cases been shown to be altogether wanting. The 

 opaline nature of the quartz reefs at McQueen's Pass (Banks' Penin- 

 sula) showed at once, according to the experience gained in other 

 countries, that they would not be auriferous, a point to which I 

 directed attention at the time. Since then, this has been confirmed 

 by a number of analyses made at the Colonial Laboratory (5th Annual 

 Report, 1870) showing that the average amount of water in nine 

 specimens from that locality was 2.73 per cent, the average of five 

 other specimens from other reefs known to be auriferous, giving only 

 an average of .54 per cent. The gold said to have been obtained 

 during the gold fever of 1S65 — 70 in the Malvern Hills, near Oxford, 

 or even on the very Canterbury plains and in several other localities, 

 proved to be either iron pyrites, or to put upon it a charitable 

 construction, had been lost by some accident. 



Similar errors occurred in many spots amongst the siliceous slates 

 (cherts) belonging to the Mount Torlesse formation, which were mistaken 

 for reefs, and where actually gold was sometimes found in small pores, 

 also as I trust, got there by some fortunate chance, from the pockets 

 of an anxious prospector, wishing to gladden the heart of some unlucky 

 shareholder. Even amongst the white marbles of the Malvern Hills, 

 standing at a very high angle, and mistaken for quartz, notwithstanding 

 that its nature was repeatedly explained to enquiring prospectors, 

 trial shafts were sunk in search of the precious metal. In those days 

 the Provincial Geologist was the most unpopular man in Canterbury, 

 because, instead of pandering to public opinion, he tried to save the 

 pockets of the people, and the useless expenditure of valuable energy,, 

 worthy of a better cause. And he has had at least the satisfaction 

 that many of his fellow colonists, who in those days considered him 



