Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16,1869. THE KAIMANAWA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1101, 16 November 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1869. THE KAIMANAWA.

We print below a letter from Dr.; Hector, with reference to the speeimen&'of quartz from Kaimanawa lately , submitted to him, upon whicH, as,telegraphed, he reports unfavorably. It will be seen, however, that the Doctor, who knows the i Kaimanawa range, evidently thinks it very proraising as a field for the prospector. •As yet, therefore, we see no just ground for discouragement. The Government geologist clearly thinks that the range is auriferous ; and there is no good reason for supposing either that, on the one hand, the first specimeus , were not from the Kaimanawa, as represented, or, ou the other, that the second wero taken from a reef or other likely* spot; - or selected with any judgment. Nor do we think any feeling of discpuragement actually exists.. At all events, Mr. Tifien starts again this morning, and Messrs. Baldwin and Hogg, : with three months' provisions, on Wednesday. We shall wait Mil the expiry of that three months before believing that the Kaimanawa is a " duffer." We append Dr. Hector's letter, for which we are indebted to His Honor the Superintendent : -r- -X '•'■'•- -'-• Geologioal Survey Office, • • Wellington, 11th Nov., 1869. Sm,— ln further reply to your;telegi*am just received, I beg to inform you that I received from his Honor Dr. Featherston a small box containing fragments of quartz, that reached this from the Kaimanawa Range, I suppose by way of Wanganui. The quartz js white compact, and in bands of two, to four inches thick, with a good deal of the containing slate attached. . Tha specimens indicate no difference inline formation from that around Wellington, and are certainly not auriferous, nor even, likely looking. The specimens do not assist me in forming any opinion as to where the prospectors should search, but from my own knowledge of the country, I think. they should carefully examine the northern or N.W. spurs that descend from the high peak that bears due east of Tongariro. Besides going over the southern part of the Kaimanawa, and examining the valley on the western slope, where the prospectors were at work when stopped by the natives in 1867, 1 had a good view of the general feature of the range from the top of Tongariro, and fancied I could detect indications of volcanic rock in the high part of it; and also the abrupt change from tabular surface features to the deeply furrowed acute ridges, which is characteristic of the junotion of voloanio and slate country. I hope soon to have a month's work in the district myself. I have the honor to be, Sir, Yours most obediently, James Hectob. His Honor the Superintendent of Hawke'sßay.