129

C—B

. country. Mr. Greville started work on the Taipo River, which he mapped almost to its head-waters or to a point where heavy snow prevented further progress. All the principal tributaries of this river within the Hokitika sheet were traversed. These are all high-grade streams, and the largest of them Hunt s Creek, is described by Mr. Greville as particularly difficult of ascent owing to its flowing through an impassable gorge a short distance above its junction with the Taipo. Hunt's Creek is a possible source of a considerable amount of motive power, the stream falling some 2,500 ft in the lower five "____ *_ C ° UrSe ; ,i E ? n by ta PP m B the stream above the gorge about 60 chains above its junction with the Taipo a fall of 250 ft. could be obtained. Mr. Greville measured the water in this creek in Uctober last, at a tune when it stood about normal level, and it was found to have a volume of 154 cubic feet per second. With the head of 250 ft. this would produce 3,400 effective horse-power On the 25th October Mr. Greville and party shifted camp to the Upper Kokatahi, from which place the survey of much unmapped country in the Browning's Pass and Toaroha Survey Districts was undertZT XT i l hls ] cou ' ltr y 1S drained by the Kokatahi and Toaroha Rivers, the major right-hand branches oi the Hokitika River. Surveys were made of these two rivers with their various tributaries from the points near where they debouch on the Westland coastal plain right to their head-waters In both instances great difficulties, especially in the transportation of provisions and camp equipment were successfully overcome, although the weather during a great part of the time was somewhat inclement Apart from the actual topographical survey, economically by far the most important result of Mr Greville s explorations is the discovery of the great and easily developed water-power of the Toaroha ( anon. The fall m this canon from the upper to the lower end is 765 ft., and two separate estimations oi the volume of water, made when the river was at its minimum flow for the season of the year (December and May), gave results of 440 and 435 cubic feet per second. If it be assumed that there is a flow of not more than 200 cubic feet per second, then there is a volume of water which, with a head of 750 it., is capable of developing 13,000 effective horse-power, and the race and tunnel necessary to afford this head would not exceed 50 chains in length. When it.is pointed out that the power could be transmitted to Hokitika over a line not more than seventeen miles in length, its great commercial value will be readily appreciated. There is power here awaiting development which is capable of running the railways oi Westland and of supplying light and power to the various centres of population from Hokitika to Greymouth. Not only would the many industries now in operation benefit by the abundance of cheap motive power, but many other industries at present impracticable might then be brought into existence. b _ Another feature of considerable interest discovered by members of Mr. Greville's party is a hot spring near the junction of Wren Creek with the Toaroha. The spring, situated amid charming surroundings, lies less than twenty-five miles from the town of Hokitika. In connection with our geological explorations in New Zealand, the nature of the country prevents more than a very limited area being examined m a single year with the staff at present available; but the work that is completed from time to time may be regarded as practically final. Of course the classification of the rocks according to age can only be arrived at after considerable areas have been examined and hence the grouping adopted in the earlier bulletins is subject to alteration. Similarly other general features may require revision. Much of the mountainous country of New Zealand, which occupies a considerable portion of the whole, is unsuitable for agriculture or pasturage, and its chief value would seem to be in the mining line As yet we have no comprehensive idea as to what our mineral resources actually comprise since much oi the country, especially the mountainous part, is still not thoroughly explored. To gain this required knowledge a careful and detailed geological survey is desirable. The present permanent geological staff, in addition to myself, the Director, is as follows • Palaeontologist and Geologist, Alexander McKay, F.G.S. ; General Geologist, Percy Gates Morgan MA ■ topographer, Reginald Palmer Greville, licensed surveyor ; Mining Geologist, Colin Fraser MSc •' Draughtsman, Robert James Crawford ; Shorthand writer and typist, John Thompson. I wish here to express my appreciation of much kindness shown me in connection with my year's work by Sir James Hector, formerly Director of the New Zealand Geological Survey; the SurveyorGeneral for New Zealand, Mr. J. W. A. Marchant; the Chief Surveyor for Westland, Mr. G J Roberts and the various members of his staff ; and the Chief Surveyor for Canterbury, Mr. Thomas Humphries' Acknowledgments for much freely given service are especially due to the Colonial Analyst Dr J S Maclaurm, and his assistant, Mr. W. Donovan. I have, &c, J. M. Bell, mv tt -jr. ~. Director of the Geological Survey. 1 he Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington.