H.—34.

4

The auriferous slates are still, as ever, devoid of fossils; they have been traced from Reefton south as far as the Grey, and are also seen as isolated patches at Eoss and still further south, no fossils, however, showing in them. Prom the slates occurring to the eastward of the belt of crystalline rocks, which strike through the island from north to south, an indistinct fossil annelid is obtained, the character of which has not as yet been determined; it is, however, identical with one which occurs in similar rocks near Nelson, and similar to a fossil in the slates of Mount Torlesse and in the Ashley Gorge. It is probable that these slates are identical with the auriferous slates of Eeefton before mentioned; and it is in them that the gold-bearing reefs of the Taipo Eanges occur. At Callaghan's Hill, Westland. and at the Waimea Township, collections were made from the calcareous and. green sand beds of the Kanieri series; and these collections, together with one made at Eedman's Creek, near Eoss, may be taken as typical of the beds throughout the vast extent of country over which they occur. At the Abbey Eocks a development of the coal measures occurs, in the shales of which fossil ferns, &c, have been found; and from certain beds of green sand, overlying the coal measures, a somewhat indistinct collection of fossils was obtained, but sufficient to identify the horizon as that of the Middle Amuri green sands, overlaid by the Amuri limestone. It is in connection with these latter beds that the deposits of lithographic stone occur, which have recently been commanding a certain amount of attention. The argentiferous lodes of Richmond Hill and Mount Eangitoto have been examined and reported upon. Part of the east coast of the North Island has also been run over somewhat hurriedly, and collections made from the extensions of the Castle Point beds north of Napier, and also from the cretaceotertiary beds (Leda marls, &c.) which cover a large area of the country surveyed. From the coal measures of the Buller coal field, immediately associated with the coal, some large oysters have been obtained, identical with those which are found in the sandstone overlying the brown coal at the Nine-Mile Bluff, north of the Grey. In consequence of the great interest attached to the study of our Upper Mesozoic formations, it was considered desirable to make exhaustive collections of fossil remains from the Amuri series, and these comprise by far the greatest bulk of the addition to the Museum during the past year. Mr. McKay, who was employed on this work, reports that he has collected approximately as many as 10,000 specimens of shells from the various horizons, in addition to which portions of not less than 150 Saurians have been secured, which will, it is hoped, tend to throw considerable light upon points in the anatomy of known species which have hitherto been of a doubtful character, in addition to which the number of species will, in all probability, be augmented. As the collections are at present being unpacked, it is impossible to give any further information concerning them. Advices have been received of a large shipment of fossils, obtained as exchanges and donations by the Manager, from correspondents in England. Collections sent from Colonial Museum in Exchange, or as Presentations to other Museivms, Sfc, from Ist November, 1875, to July, 1876. I. Collection of New Zealand insects, in exchange for others received at Colonial Museum, to Mr. C. M. Wakefield. 11. Small miscellaneous collection for the Christiana Museum.—Mr. Graff. Laboratory. The number of analyses made in the laboratory during the past year is 133 —viz., coal, 18; minerals, 49; metals and ores, 36 ; gold, 5 ; miscellaneous, 25. A full report of these analyses is given in the Annual Eeport by the Analyst. James Hectob, 19th September, 1876. Manager.

ACCOUNTS OF THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE FOR 1875-76.

Receipts. Expenditure. £ 8. d. Balance in hand, October, 1875 ... ... 48 19 11 Tote for 1875-76 ... ... ... 500 0 0 Contribution from Wellington Philosophical Society ... ... ... ... 29 15 0 iale of Transactions ... ... ... 16 16 0 Expenses of Printing Volume VIII.... Binding Volumes for Library Miscellaneous items Balance £ s. d. ... 370 11 1 3 14 0 3 16 ... 218 4 4 £595 10 11 £595 10 11 Arthur Stock, Hon. Treasurer. 19th September, 1876. Hoi By Authority: GrEOEGE Didsbuey, Government Printer, Wellington.—1876. "rice 3d.]