NOTES AND QUEEIES. 
273 
of the hills which form the greater part of the said island ; and basaltic 
boulders are associated with quartzose ones in the shingly beds of the 
mountain streams of Coromandel and in the boulder-clays of the auriferous 
drift. 
Contrasting the Tuapeka (Otago) with the Coromari'del gold-fields, the 
author indicates the following respective peculiarities : — At Tuapeka 
(Otago) : — a. The bare open country, resembling the Laramermuirs of 
Scotland, consisting of gently undulating "ranges," of a height generally 
of from 500 to \hOO feet. h. The abundance of the auriferous drift, and 
the comparative insignificance or scarcity of the parent quartzites. c. The 
scarcity of timber for fuel and slabbing ; but, on the other hand, the pre- 
sence of hgnites. d. The inclement climate, e. The ditficulties of land- 
communication with the capital, Dunedin, arising from insufficient roads. 
f. Unlimited powers of "prospecting" and "working," arising from the 
absence of a native population. At Coromandel : — a. The precipitous 
mountain-ranges, densely covered with a jungle-vegetation to the top ; the 
hill-bases impinging directly on the sea-margin, without the intervention 
of "flats," save to an insignificant extent, h. The scarcity of the aurifer- 
ous drifts, and the abundance of the parent quartzites. c. The abundance 
of timber for fuel, mining-works, and dwellings, d. The superior climate, 
arising from its geographical position, 8(X) miles more nortiierly. e. The 
facilities of water-communication with the capital, Auckland, 45 or 50 
miles distant, f. Difficulties and dangers of prospecting and working, 
arising from the presence of a jealous, hostile proprietary native popu- 
lation. 
From his observations at Coromandel and Tuapeka, as well as in the 
other parts of iSew Zealand visited during his tour of 1861-62, Dr. Lindsay 
makes the following statements, inferences, or predictions : — 
1. That while there is, at Coromandel, a very limited and insignificant 
field for alluvial dir/ging, there is ample scope for qnartz-mimng. 2. That 
the auriferous resources of Coromandel will only be fully developed in the 
course of many years by the application of all modern improvements in 
chemistry and mechanics to systematic mining, which must become one of 
the permanent industrial occupations of the province of Auckland, and 
"which will demand the sinking of a large capital in the first instance. 
3. That slates similar to those of Coromandel, with associated auriferous 
quartzites, will be found to occur over a comparatively large area of the 
province of Auckland. 4. That new gold-fields remain to be discovered 
m that province ; though experiment only, and on a suitable scale, can 
determine where and whether " payable " gold-fields exist. 5. That where- 
as lignites are widely distributed over the province of Auckland, it is most 
desirable to ascertain whether tbey are of similar geological age to those 
of Otago, and associated with the same auriferous drifts. 6. That whereas, 
in Australia and other auriferous countries, gold is not confined necessarily 
to metamorphic slates or their derived drifts, but occurs occasionally in 
granitic and hornblendic (syenitic) rocks or their debris ; and whereas, 
though this is rare in New Zealand, there is, according to the testimony of 
Mr. Haast, the Government geologist of the Canterbury province, at least 
one good instance of such an occurrence in the province of Nelson, in the 
beds of the rivers Eoto-iti and Eoto-roa, where the gold could apparently 
only have been derived from the decomposition or degradation of rocks of 
a syenitic or hornblendic character, — the attention of prospectors and 
miners, not only in the province of Auckland, but in that of Otago, and, 
indeed, in all the New Zealand provinces, all of which will probably be 
found to be to a greater or less extent auriferous, should be directed to 
YOL. YI. 2 N 
