GEOLOGICAL REPORT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 1952, 3 September 1863, Page 5

GEOLOGICAL REPORT.

(By the Hon. J. C. Crawford.)

Wellington, August 23, 1862. To His Honor I. E. Featherston, Sir, — As the question has arisen how the Government of the natives may be conducted from Wellington, it may not be premature to consider the best means of opening inland communication from this place, with the great centres of Maori population in the valleys of the Waikato and the adjoining rivers. There appear to be four routes by which this object can be effeoted, viz : — lst. By the present lines of communication between the interior and Auckland, and thence by the mail steamers to Wellington. 2nd. By one of the routes through the forest country near the Raugitikei, or Wangaehu rivers, emerging on the open interior and thence passing to 7'aupo, and the North, to the Eastward of the Volcanic range of Ruapehu, and Tongariro. 3rd. By the way of Taranaki, either by coast, or inland, and thence to the Waipa and Waikato valleys. 4lh. By oonnecting the township of Whanganui with Na Huinga (or the junction) of Ngarue with the main Whanganui river, from which point there is said to be an easy road to Ngaruawahia. The Ist route is inadequate and involves too much trusting to correspondence only. The 2nd route ought at any rate to be opened for a horse road and the line by the Raugitikei, may be estimated, for this purpose, to cost as follows. Felling and burning fifty miles of bush at £1 ss. per chain 4000 chains £5000, exclusive of some small bridges and cuttings. The 3rd route will probably be opened as far as Taranaki, for its looal value alone ; but its direction is too far to the West, and the distance consequently is too great, for rapid communication with the Waikato. The 4th route (if practicable) will be the best and most direct route of any, that is to say if the Maori information be correct, that from Na Huinga,* an easy line of road leads through an open country, wilh only one short bush to pass through to Ngaruawahia. The distance of Taumarumui (the pa at Na Huinga) from the township of Whanganui, I estimated at 170 miles, by the bends of the river ; taking a rate of speed six miles an hour. This lam inclined to think, is perhaps one mile an hour underestimated. The desoont oooupied (while aotually underweigh) 29 hours 20 miuutes, so that 200 miles may be about the mark. The distance iv a direct line on the chart, would appear to be about 70 miles ouly If a road be practicable, the length required may perhaps be estimated as somewhat over 100 miles. This line would form one of the most valuable links in New Zealand. It would directly open the Waikato country to Cook's Strait, and would intersect the line of Ohura, which would open the Maniopoto country, aud the high plateau ofthe interior being avoided, the road would be always open. Whether this line be practicable or not can oniy be ascertained by a skilful engineer devoting a summer to its investigation. The difficulties appear considerable ; but I think it .extremely probable, that by a little judicious twisting and turning, the ridges may be headed and a line of road obtained. It would be chiefly side cutting. Taking Whanganui as the pivot of communication, the improvement of the route between that port and Wellington remains to be considered. For tbe present this is an easy day's journey by ; steam — but as an inland road is absolutely required to open up the country, [, for one, shall not be satisfied until I see , a Railroad running up the West

* Na Huinga meaas the junction. {

7 1 Coast. I believe that a Railroad, as re- - commended by Mr. Fitzgibbon,. can be laid down, on that coast, mach cheaper than a macadamized road could be constructed. One reason will suffice, viz. — that a large extent of sand or swamp, ' could be traversed by a railway on short piles and sleepers, without further outlay, or movement of soil. From Wainui to Whanganui, the difficulties, except for bridges, are trifling. From Wellington to Wainui, although some preliminary investigation is required, there would seem to be no real obstacle, considering what the Dun Mountain Railway has achieved. Should the Native Land Bill become law, tbere would appear to be no object in delaying the construction of railways because they pass through Native Land although perhaps financial arrangements for their promotion might require some novel application. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Jambs C. Crawford. Manawatu, October 21, 1862. To His Honor I. E. Featherston, Sir, — As an examination of the rocks ofthe Province of Wellington has hitherto only resulted in the discovery of small samples of gold, aud has failed to discover that metal in workable quantities, the question arises in what line, or direction, we ought to expect to find gold in the Northern Island. Some years ago and before the open* ing of the Otago Gold Diggings, but subsequent to the discovery of those at the Buller liver, I pointed out in a letter to the newspapers, that a continuation of a live, through the Gold districts of the Middle Island lo Coromandel, would intersect the couutry lying between the Whanganui river and Taranaki and that on that line, supposing the tertiary rocks did not entirely cover the country, the gold bearing rocks would probably be found* This live is in a bearing of about N. N.E , and S.S.W., nearly the line of the Magnetic Meridian. Sebsequent observations and discoveries, tend to confirm the probability that this is the true line, or rather zone, in which to look for the gold bearing, rooks. From the specimens which I have seen , from Otago, from the Buller river, and elsewhere in the Middle Island, micaceous and talcose schists and micaceous rocks generally, associated with quarts, seem to be those most favourable for the finding of gold. Now the rooks of the Western ranges of the Middle Islaud are very micaceous, while those of the Eastern ranges, minerologically the same as the. main range of the North Island, contain little mica, and are principally sillcious slates and crystalline sandstones, associated with serpentinous rocks. There appears to be a remarkable parallelism in the ancient New Zealand rocks. The main range of the North Island, in which Wellington is situated, traverses the Island in a N.N.E. direotion from Cook's Strait, and reaches the sea in the Bay of Plenty about six miles from the East Cape. This range, having rocks of similar mineralogical oharaoter, crosses the Strait, and proceeds in a curve into the Canterbury Province, and so on to the Southward. Behind it, in the Otago Province, the gold bearing mica schists*wou]d appear to curve round somewhat to the Eastward. The Eastern range, composed principally of silicious slates, and crystalline sandstones, all highly inclined, appears to contain some gold, but none has yet been found in payable quantities. . As far as my examination extended in tbe Taupo country and at the head waters ofthe Whanganui, the few ancient rocks which I found there, either " in situ " or as boulders, consisted only of siliceous slates, or semi crystalline sandstones, — no mica schists, nor gneiss, nor granites ; but the line of my journey was still to the Eastward of what may be the gold bearing zone. As evidence of a gold bearing zone running through the NoPth Island, taking tbe Coromandel as a starting point, we hear of gold quartz being discovered at the Wairoa,* not far from Auckland,— next I am credibly informed, that gold . quartz is common in Te Hangawera range, which separates the Waikato from the Thames valley; and next I have the authority ol Sir George Grey for stating, that a rich piece of gold quartz was brought to him by a native from Titi Raupenga, a place distant a journey of a day and a half N.N.W. from Pukawa on Lake Taupo. I have also to add to this, information whioh I have reoeived ftom Mr Fitzherbert, that samples ofthe iron. sand at Taranaki, sent by hini to be analized, were reported to contain traces of gold. Should the above view of the line of the gold bearing rocks seem theoretically good, the question arises in which way tho existence of gold can best be proved. I believe that point can be most satisfactorily arrived at by traversing the gold bearing rocks in the Province of Auckland; from the Coromandel towards the Waikato and Waipa districts, and finding how far they cau be traced to the South, 1 would also recommend, a thorough investigation of the Taranaki iron sand, yy by sinking to some depth, and by any,:-. other means that observation on the spot \ may suggest The supposed gold bearing zone, commencing at Coromandel, will cross* the courses of the rivers Thames and Waikato, pass through Otavvhao and through .tho. Waipa valley, traverse the country lying between Whanganui river and Taranaki, and so on to the Nelson Gold Fields across the Strait. The southern part of thia zone in the North Island is very much, perhaps entirely, covered by tertiary rocks, but I have reason to suppose from theevidence previously given, and froHi other information, that in the Auckland. Province the older may be ra^re exposed.- . . I have the honor to he f . £>«•, Your obedient servant, ,„, Jambs C. Crawford, , < Provincial Geologist.