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at the North Creek Quartz-Reef Company's headquarters. In the afternoon we walked nearly a mile up the mountain to inspect the works of the company. They had driven a tunnel a considerable distance into the hill to tap the reef, already found, on the summit, to be dipping at an angle. No crushing machinery was yet on the ground, but the company had done a large amount of work in driving, and cutting a very good pack-track to the mine for the conveyance of machinery, timber, and other necessary materials. From the appearance of the country I think that the prospects of the company are encouraging, if sufficient capital is invested to fully develop their ground. We remained the night here, and proceeded at six o'clock the next morning to Browning's Pass, at the head of the Wilberforce, to inspect a rich reef known as the Christchurch Gold-Mining Company's, about 5,000ft. up the side of the dividing range between Canterbury and the West Coast. On reaching the Pass we found that snow had fallen two days previously, and ice had formed sufficiently to make the ascent to the mine dangerous. However, I saw several excellent specimens of the stone that had been taken out from the reef, which varied in thickness from 16ft. to 20ft. I have no doubt, when the spring season comes round, and a track is formed to the reef, that a payable mine will ba worked. When that is done, the promoters (Messrs. Warner, Bryce, and company) intend erecting proper machinery for crushing. I lost no time in retracing my wanderings down the Wilberforce in the direction of the Moa Creek reefs. I reached the camp at dark, and remained all night. In the morning I proceeded to the mine, about I,Booft. above the camp and 2,700ft. above sea-level. The reef runs east and west. A winze is being sunk at an angle south-westerly, and very good prospects are being obtained. I saw an excellent one washed from a dish of stuff. The manager of this mine, Mr. George Lander, a practical miner, seemed well satisfied with past results and was hopeful for the future. The North Creek reefs, near the Unknown Creek, seem to be lying north-easterly from the reefs in this locality. With the exception of the Browning's Pass reefs, the others I visited in Canterbury have plenty of useful timber for mining purposes surrounding them. There are several others, however, being opened in the vicinity of Moa Creek, and, from indications I noticed, I think it probable a rich gold-mining country exists in the locality. I left at midday, and, joining the party near the Rakaia, we travelled to the Government shelter-hut on the Harper, where we remained for the night. Here, again, we were fortunate in having shelter, for it proved very wet and cold. The next morning we started for Lake Coleridge, and crossed over to the junction of the West Coast main road to Christchurch, and reached Springfield in time to go on by the afternoon train to the city. To thoroughly test and open up the vast extent of probably auriferous quartzreefing country in the vicinity of both the liakaia and Wilberforce Rivers, tracks and roads will have to be made, and water-power is required to be introduced where practicable from high-level sources. Auckland. Coromandel.— On the 15th May I left Wellington for Auckland';on my way to the northern mines, and passed on from the latter city to Coromandel on the 18th, accompanied by Mr. Cadman, M.H.R. I reached my destination in the evening. In good time the next morning my party started to inspect the chief mines in the vicinity, and visited the Tokatea Company's quartz claim, where a large amount of money has been spent and a great extent of work done. The company are driving a low-level tunnel, and have already pierced the hill 3,000ft. Dividends had been taken from this mine, before the end of 1877, amounting to £65,000, and since that time, £29,000 ; but the lead of gold has been lost. If the low-level tunnel, now being driven, picks up the lead, the discovery will be of incalculable value to the district. I then went on to the Kapanga Gold-Mining Company's works, which have been in operation about thirteen years, and owned chiefly by English capital; they have spent over £70,000, and, as yet, realized £14-,000 value in gold. The best of