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was pitched on the coast-line, but, owing to the extreme inclemency of the weather, the advance camps pitched among the mountains could not be brought in, nor was any advance possible along the coast-line to the eastward. This work, embracing an examination of the head-waters of the Grey and Wilson Rivers, Coal and Gold Burns, to the western banks of Kiwi Burn, occupied till the 22nd February. From the mouth of the Kiwi it was intended to follow the coast-line to the mouth of Big River, but owing to bad weather this work could not be effected till the 7th March. From the Bth March till the 22nd March was employed in an examination of the coastward region from the mouth of the Kiwi to the shores of Preservation Inlet, after which date, the weather improving, the examinations by boat were made in both Preservation and Chalky Inlets, which work was finished by the Bth April. The eastern side of Kisbee Bay from Cromarty to Longbeach was next examined, and, having determined to leave the district by the steamer " Invercargill," work was so arranged that I was able to leave by her on the 18th April, and I arrived at Wellington on the 22nd of that month. Description of the District examined. The district examined comprises that portion of Western Otago south of a line drawn from the West Cape, Fiord County, across the head of Edwardson Sound to a point east of Long Burn, where stands Houseroof Hill, and west of a line drawn thence to the sea at the mouth of Big River. Some parts of the district were examined with considerable care ; others, the more inaccessible parts, could not be so examined, and the nature of the rocks had to be guessed at; yet in the distinctions attempted as between granite and mica-schist there is not much likelihood of error. The boundaryline between the two formations can be traced, with care, by the eye from the top of any of the higher mountains of the district, and thus was gained a general idea of the distribution of the granite and schist rocks. Afterwards, at several points along the line, examinations were made, which proving these surmises correct gave confidence in the determinations made over the whole line. The great feature of the district is the presence of a wild and tumultuous assemblage of mountains, composed of granite and schist, into the far recesses of which long arms of the sea — Preservation and Chalky Inlets—penetrate and send off branch sounds in various directions. The south coast from Puysegur Point to the mouth of Big River presents between the granite mountains and the sea an area five to ten miles in breadth, which declines gradually, or in terrace-like steps, from 1,200 ft. to within 200 ft. of sea-level, the land, as a rule, terminating in a line of cliffs. Above the general level stands a line of rocky projections that have received the name of hummocks, but which in reality are hills of considerable size. These alone seem to break the general uniformity, except to the north, where around the sources of Sealers' Creeks (Nos. 1 and 2) the heights at the back of Long Beach, however viewed, appear as hills standing apart, and reaching a height of about I,oooft. above sea-level. Though such may be the general appearance of this part of the district, the passage across it of the several small streams and lesser rivers have been the means of cutting deep gorges and canon-like channels, or, in the case of the larger streams, broader valleys, the sides of which are sculptured into ridges and gullies that, covered as they universally are by a dense forest growth, form difficult country for getting about in. North of this the outer granite mountains, as seen from a distance, have smooth outlines, but, passing the first heights, the country is very rugged within the granite-belt, more especially around the sources of the Kiwi Burn and Cavendish River. In the western part of the district, Preservation and Chalky Inlets penetrate what is at first hilly bush-clad country, rising often abruptly, but to no great elevations. Indeed, the belt of sloping table-land in the eastern part of the district is distinctly traceable over the western and north-western parts, though when the surface falls below the general average level it may be sculptured so as to present outlines that are sufficiently rugged and uninviting. Further towards the interior, on entering upon the granite belt, scenery of a different type presents itself: the middle and lower slopes of the mountains bordering on the Sounds are very precipitous, often vertical walls of rock rising to heights of from I,oooft. to 1,500 ft. These rock-faces are often bare of vegetation, but where a stunted forest growth can cling the lesser slopes are covered thickly with a variety of trees and shrubs which in favourable situations acquire the dimensions of forest-trees of considerable size. At heights approaching 2,300 ft. above sea-level the trees become stunted and scrubby, and at the height mentioned grasses of various kinds begin, but above 3,000 ft. the tops of the mountains are wholly devoid of vegetation. Towards the upper parts of Long Sound and Edwardson Sound, at the head of Chalky Inlet, the rocks are mica-schist, and form mountains that above 3,000 ft. are bare of vegetation, and present quite different features to what appear within the granite region. Houseroof Hill, as the name of a schist mountain, exemplifies this. Preservation Inlet, being a port of call for the Union Steam Shipping Company's steamers when making the yearly excursion-trips to the sounds of the West Coast, is thus fairly well known to the pleasure-seeking or health-conserving portion of the travelling public. Yet there may be those into whose hands this will come who have not made the Sounds' trip, and to whom some further description of the two Sounds that principally concerns this report will be acceptable. Preservation Inlet. The main or western entrance to this lies between Gulches Head, on the northern side, and Coal Island, and is from two to two miles and a half wide. Gulches Head has an outer and an inner point. The outer is formed of granite, and at sea-level these granite rocks are continued out to sea, and form a series of dangerous reefs for some distance from the mainland. The inner headland is composed of conglomerates, sandstones, and shales ; these rocks, though from their nature less able to resist the fury of the south-west gales that beat with terrible force on this part of the coast-line, nevertheless form high cliffs, but, at the same time, these waste at a comparatively rapid rate. On