a—6

4

Before closing my remarks upon the West Coast, I take this opportunity of acknowledging the cordial and generous assistance and practical advice I received from Mr. O'Conor, Mr. Seddon, Mr. Menteath, Mr. Guinness, and Mr. Bevan, M.II.R.'s, each of whom, from time to time, accompanied me through their several districts. We left Kumara en route for Canterbury via Otira Gorge and Bealoy, arriving at Springfield the next evening. On the following day I visited the Springfield Coal Mine, where I found a great deal of work had been done, which had necessitated a large expenditure of capital. The plant was of a substantial character, and the product appeared to be a useful brown coal, extensively used by settlers in the surrounding agriciiltural district. ■ Nelson. I went on to Christchurch, and left there the same day for Blenheim via Waikari, Hurunui, and Hanmer Springs, across the Waiau —a most dangerous river, that ought to be bridged —then down the Clarence, Acheron, and Awatere, to Blenheim. Here I desire to point out that, under the old provincial land laws of Nelson, certain large reserves were made, on different lines of road, of some of the best lands for accommodation houses, and a bonus, with commission, agreed to be given by the Provincial Government for the erection of buildings for the shelter and convenience of travellers. These lands were leased to the runholders in certain cases, free of rent, conditionally that houses were built, furnished, and conducted in a sufficient and proper manner to afford decent accommodation to the traveller. I regret to say the arrangement has been abused by the runholders. In my journey one day, over sixty-five miles of a wearisome track, I found, on one of these reserves, a miserable shanty, almost unfitted for habitation, and badly provided in every respect, the occupants of which, tenants of the runholder, informed me that their landlord would only give them a monthly lease, as he did not wish them to provide comfortable accommodation —or, in other words, he was opposed to travellers stopping on the reserve. Another accommodation shanty had been burned down a few years ago, on another reserve in possession of the same runholder, but had never been rebuilt, notwithstanding that he had enjoyed the use of 1,820 acres of Crown lands without paying anything for it. There are other cases of a somewhat similar nature in the Nelson Provincial District, and I allude to the circumstance here, as roads and facilities for travelling through and about the country must materially promote or retard the progress of the mining industry. Leaving Blenheim, on the 24th Pebruary, I went up the Wairau liiver, via, Tophouse, and across the Little Motueka, at Stewarts, and thence to Nelson on the 26th. Copper Mines. —The next day I spent in visiting the Champion Copper Mine, situate a few miles over the hills behind Richmond. I found that extensive work had been done and much was still being carried on; large quantities of native copper had been brought to grass, and shafts were being put down to strike the lode at a greater depth, the result of which, I believe, from indications I saw, will be satisfactory. Machinery for better working and smelting at the mine was expected to arrive from America, when I trust the hopeful anticipations of the Company will be realized. The United Copper Mine lode, the ore of which is of a promising character, is about one mile from the Champion, and now held by the same proprietary. Gollingwood. —After returning to Nelson I went by water to Collmgwood, reaching there next morning. I then proceeded to the Parapara haematite Avorks, where I saw some wonderful deposits of haematite ore —a whole mountain of it, with masses showing above the surface ranging up to 20ft. in diameter. Near the works is a gorge containing large haematite boulders. In the locality coal, and marble, or crystalline limestone, can be procured in quantities. I am disposed to think that, with the initiation of the public works scheme, the utilization of the immense iron deposits here in the manufacture of rails w rould have been a step in the right direction. I rode a few miles up the Parapara to the Glengyle Gold