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shows along the eastern base of the hill for about half a mile from the Hokitika River. A road is being formed north to south along the east base of the hill, and it was thought that these breccias and conglomerates might be worked for the production of road-metal, but they proved much too strongly cemented to be excavated with the pick. Dipping to the east these rocks rise on to the mountain, their junction line with the slates at the east end of the south side of the mountain taking a south-west direction to the crest of the mountain-ridge west of the main peak on which the trig, is situated. Immediately west of the trig, peak is a saddle, on the further side of which is a rounded elevation, from which the mountain has received the name of Camel-back Hill Through this lesser rounded elevation the breccia gravels probably extend, as on the intervening saddle small coal-seams are said to be found. These breccia gravels are of considerable thickness, being probably 300 ft. or more. While the lower part reaches well to the westward on the northern face of the mountain the upper beds, from west of the saddle, owing to the easterly dip, descend to lower levels, and extend to the east along the middle and lower slope of this part of the mountain (the eastern part of the northern slope), till finally the breccias disappear at the level of the plain being covered by recent shingle or swamp deposit. Following these breccia conglomerates are the beds containing coal. These consist of sandstones and dark shales, reaching a maximum thickness of 400 ft., and, being conformable thereto their line of outcrop, follows the upper surface of the breccia conglomerates. There is some evidence that the beds are thinner on the south side than on the north side of the mountain and it is likely that the thicker and purer coals will be found on the northern slope, it. A^u c hi S h f st beds m the series form a massive development of limestone resembling that of the Abbey rocks, or the Whangarei and Hikurangi limestone of the Auckland District. It is subcrystalline, but usually so fine in grain as to have an earthy appearance when seen in mass This limestone covers two-thirds of the eastern face of the mountain, and may be some 200 ft thick but it is difficult to exactly determine its thickness by mere observation from the low grounds of the surrounding plain. It appears in the low grounds at the eastern end of the hill and from the northern side is continuous for two-thirds the distance along the eastern face. It also appears to the north as a low isolated ridge on the plain about a mile distant from the mountain much in the same manner as does a low ridge of the breccia conglomerate on the plain to the south-south-east of Koiterangi. The coal-measures thus appearing between the limestones above and the breccia conglomerates below, and restricted to a narrow belt never more than a quarter of a mile wide the field over which prospecting for workable seams may be carried is thus limited, and clearly bounded by easily recognisable rocks. So far as I could judge, the principal and perhaps the only workable seam lies high in the series, and at no great distance below the limestone ; so that, passing over the limestone scarp, whether to the north-west, west, or south-west, search for coal outcrops should at once be begun, and if at first unsuccessful, be continued till the breccia conglomerate is reached This search should preferably be carried on along the beds of the numerous ravines and gullies that cut into the mountain-slope, unless the channel is too much choked with boulders, as sometimes will be the case. On the northern face of the mountain careful search should be made over the entire lace, as on this I anticipate the coal-seams will be thicker, better, and more conveniently situated tor working, and nearer to the likely market than on the southern end of the eastern face While on the ground I pointed out to Mr. McArthur, a member of the committee appointed to direct prospecting, what was required in the case, and over what ground it was most advisable to make search tor coal-seams; and from what has been said above it will be readily concluded that the area is restricted and definitely bounded, so that no serious mistake should be made _ _ Regarding the seam already known, and to some extent prospected, Inspector G J Binns visited the outcrops m April, 1886, and of these he says : "The most likely one was a seam 3 ft bin. in thickness, and occurring at a height of about 1,300 ft. above the flat. As this seam dips at o to the south-east, it may be found nearer the level ground, and, at my suggestion the efforts of the prospectors will be directed to a solution of this problem."* From which it will appear that up to the present time no very strenuous or successful efforts have been made to discover coal at lower levels. A prospecting-dnve was made on the lower slope of the hill, not far from the limei IS u WaS examlned °y me in 1893 . bu t f rom what I saw, not being able to enter the drive I concluded that this was too close to the limestone, and, so far as I could at the time ascertain was not commenced on an outcrop of coal. Albx . McKay.' 10th December, 1900.

REPORT ON INDICATIONS OF COAL IN COAL CREEK, ROSS, WESTLAND. By Alexander McKay, F.G.S., Government Geologist. On the 22nd November, as directed, I went from Hokitika to Ross, and the following day examined the section exposed in the valley of Coal Creek, a branch of Donnelly's Creek. Fragments of coal have from time to time been picked up in the bed of the creek, and while its bed was beins worked for gold a thin seam of coal was discovered. This led to some prospecting for coal and a borehole was put down in the hope of cutting a thicker seam, but failed to do so. Recently an outcrop of coal was found on the left side of the valley, at a height of 130 ft. above the creek-bed Ihe discovery of this was the occasion of my visit, but on examination it proved to be of no value the seam being not more than a few inches in thickness and doubtfully in situ.

* Mines Departmental Reports, 1886. C.-4c. d. 7.

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