17 
C.— 13. 
In the Warbeck, and a tributary of the Warbeck (the Eappahanock), there is some extent of 
alluvial lands, and notably in the Rappahanock these are gold-bearing, the gold present being 
derived from conglomerates belonging to the lower division of the Cretaceo-tertiary rocks, which 
have a very considerable development in this part of the district. 
In Station Creek the auriferous alluvia have been worked for gold to a considerable extent, 
these are in great part derived from gravels of older date, brought down the Maruia Valley by 
the agency of ice, or by rivers, when this part of the valley formed the basin of an extensive 
lake ; but the gold, it would appear, has been for the most part derived from the conglomerates 
at the base of the coal-bearing series. 
In the Alfred River the recent alluvial deposits are the results of the degradation of the schist 
ranges to the eastward surrounding the sources of the river ; the gold is therefore most probably 
derived from reefs in these rocks. 
Bailer from Fern Flat to Junction of the Mataira. — At Fern Flat the banks of the river 
have been worked for gold, and the Buller Dredge is at present placed on a portion of the river- 
bed immediately opposite the accommodation-house. Higher up the river valley the chief extent 
of alluvial flat land lies on the opposite or south side of the river, on both sides of the low T er Mataki- 
taki, and constitutes the farming district of Hampden. 
In Doughboy Creek the outer and lower alluvial area is a part of that already described as due 
to the action of the Buller above and below the junction of the Matakitaki, but in the upper valley, 
leading to the Glencairn Saddle, by which the Maruia Valley is reached, the auriferous alluvial 
gravels are of local origin, probably derived from the conglomerates of coal-bearing series. 
In the Matakitaki Valley, up to the junction of the Glenroy River, all the gold-workings are 
situated in the low grounds along the banks of the river, and are consequently in river alluvia 
of recent date. The river keeps close under the range of hills on the western side of the valley, 
and the high level terraces are all on the eastern side, but whether these should, in the lower part 
of the valley, be separated from the recent deposits may be doubted. All the gold of this part of 
the Matakitaki Valley must be considered as having been derived from either older gravels above 
the Glenroy junction, or from the conglomerates of the coal-bearing series. 
In the Upper Matakitaki the river has cut through very heavy deposits of shingle, that now form 
high banks on each side of the river. Narrow flats lie along the river banks at a lower level, and, 
these alone have to be considered at the present time. In the deeper terraces the bottom gravels 
appear to have been deposited in a lake, the outlet of which has been cut away by the action of the 
river. In this respect, therefore, the Upper Matakitaki deposits resemble those of the Maruia 
Valley above the junction of the Warbeck. 
In the Glenroy Valley there are a number of terrace flats which may be considered under this 
head, while along other parts of its course the stream has cut its way through the conglomerates of 
the coal-bearing series, forming thus a narrow channel not favourable for the retention of gravels. 
Further towards the source of the stream the valley widens, and the alluvial flats along the river 
are of considerable extent. There are a variety of rocks present in the upper part of the Glenroy 
Watershed, aud from the Maitai slates and the schist rocks present some part of the gold found in 
the valley lias without doubt been derived ; bul^ from the great development of the conglomerates at 
the base of the Cretaceo-tertiary series it is presumed that these have yielded the greatest proportion 
of the gold obtained and yet to be obtained from the alluvial deposits of the valley. 
(c.) Littoral. — These deposits consist of the moving sands and shingle of the tideway between 
high- and low-water mark, and the series of but slightly raised beaches that generally lie at the foot 
of a higher terrace or bold rocky land, and which do not exceed 25ft. above sea-level. Such deposits 
are found along the coast-line from the mouth of the Mikonui to the Hokitika River, and along this 
part the gold is generally obtained from within, at, or near, high-water mark; but towards the 
mouth of the Hokitika black-sand deposits, rich in gold, lie at a considerable distance inland from 
the coast-line ; these on Craig’s freehold, on the south side of the river, have yielded during the 
past three years a large amount of gold. On the north beach, and thence to the mouth of the 
Arahura, the same character of deposit generally prevails — viz., layers of black sand, containing 
gold, overlain or underlain by grey sand, the overlying grey sands being often drifted on to the black- 
sand layer by the action of the winds, which drives inland from the tide-way the lighter sand 
grains. Of such character are the deposits along the coast-line between the Three-mile, north of 
Hokitika, aud the mouth of the Arahura. North of the Arahura the back leads usually rest on or 
are contained in shingle, as may be seen in the ground worked along the foot of the higher terrace 
between the Kumara Railway-station and the beach opposite that place. 
North of the Tcremahau to the mouth of the Grey River this is also the general character of 
the deposits immediately inland of the tideway. South of Greymouth, as far as the mouth of the New 
River, these workings are very extensive, and sometimes the amount of gravel removed to reach the 
gold-bearing stratum has been considerable. Like conditions prevail north of the Grey River to 
Point Elizabeth, and on the Seven-mile and Nine-mile Beaches. Away from the vicinity of the 
mouths of the larger river and from an abrupt coast-line, the shingle passes into sands on the low 
sloping beaches, and the black sand auriferous deposit under the action of the tide separates into 
distinct beds. This is the condition of the auriferous deposits on the Seventeen-mile Beach, abreast 
of Barrytown, and of all the beaches up to the Fox River. Nor is it greatly different between the 
Fox River and Cape Foul wind. North of the Buller the shingly type of beach again makes its ap- 
pearance, and continues to the Waimangaroa, beyond which for the present it is not necessary to 
trace this series of deposits. 
The amount of gold raised from these littoral deposits has been very great, and although 
“ beach combing” must gradually become less and less remunerative, and the black-sand leads not 
so easy to work, and possibly also, what are left of them, not so rich in gold ; yet from these 
deposits there has yet to be won, perhaps, more gold than has hitherto been obtained from them. 
3— C. 13. 
