PREFACE. 
Since the year 1887 I have spent most of my time in travelling about this Colony, 
and so have come in contact with most of its inhabitants, who, almost without 
exception, seem to be urgently desirous of information about its mineral resources, 
and the same is the case with the numerous visitors who call upon me, while every 
mail brings letters from intending visitors and speculators making inquiries on 
the same subject. My first annual report, published in 1890, which is the only 
general geological description of the Colony, has been in such demand that it has 
long been out of print; I have therefore attempted, in this little work, to supply 
what I considered to be a general want, namely, a general report on the 
geography, geology, and mineral resources of the Colony, with a little mineralogy, 
and such other information as may be useful for the guidance of visitors, pros¬ 
pectors, and settlers generally. I have not written it as a scientific treatise, but 
have tried, as far as I could, to make the information it contains as simple as 
possible to bring it within the understanding of persons who have had no scientific 
training. 
This being the first attempt at a work of this description in this vast Colony, 
there must naturally be many imperfections and omissions. 1 will therefore ask 
my readers to deal leniently with it, and should it prove serviceable in any way to 
them, my object will have been attained. Should a future edition be considered 
necessary I will try to greatly improve upon this one, and to this end I shall 
thankfully receive any suggestions, criticisms, or corrections. 
1-3-94. 
H. P. W. 
