The character of these veinstones is very similar, both in appearance and in mode of occurrence, wherever they are found, except that in some places the vein is only a few feet wide, whereas in others it may be thirty or forty feet thick. If we find a similar result to that already obtained from several different localities, we may then, I think, conclude that we have valuable mines in the district. I know a great many places in which these veinstones are found, and will now proceed to describe them.

These reefs appear to me to be found chiefly along two lines, and run in the direction of the ranges—viz., about N.N.E. and S.S.W. The western line intersects the upper part of the Otaki River, and that of the Hakatarewaha, and probably appears in a confused and undefined state at Baker's Hill, near Wellington.

The eastern line appears to strike up the valley of the Orongorongo, in which locality the specimen under discussion was found. There is a reef of this stone on Sinclair's ground in the upper part of the Wainuiomata, and there are indications of it about Drake's Elbow on the Rimutaka road, all pointing to the general direction of this line.

The widest reef which I have seen is situated on the banks of the Waiotauheru, a branch of the Otaki River. It is a long time since I have seen it, and therefore do not like to speak positively as to the dimensions, but I think I should be safe in calling it at least a chain wide.

In the upper part of the Hakatarewaha I found a reef about four feet wide.

On the western line I think that attention should first be directed to the valleys of the rivers above named, particularly as there is now easy access to the valley of the latter river.

To reach the reefs of the Otaki River cannot be an easy matter at this time of year. It is difficult to give an exact idea of the distance to be travelled, but an estimate may be formed from the length of time it took me to reach them. From the Wairarapa pa, near the point where the Otaki River leaves the mountains, it took me a day and a half walking to reach the reefs. In returning down stream it was an easy day's journey to reach Otaki itself.

When the base of the higher part of the ranges is reached, the Otaki River is found to fork. The main stream comes down from the northward, and a large tributary called the Waiotauheru falls in from the southward. About two hours' journey up the latter river I pitched my camp, and near it were the reefs in question, cropping out on the right bank of the river, and standing vertical.

The character of these reefs is typical of all the others of the same kind. The quartz stands in lines of three or four inches thick, separated by mullock. The quartz veins have an undulating conformation, chain-like, so

that lumps may often be broken off at the thinner parts, and appear in a boulder-like form. The quantity of mullock separating the layers of quartz ought, I suppose, to make the working of these reefs very easy.

Supposing the Otaki reefs to be gold-bearing the question of access would be a serious consideration. There would not, I think, be any particular engineering difficulties in forming a road to them from Otaki, but it would be a work of considerable outlay. I think it probable that a low saddle might be found by which to reach them from the valley of the Hakatarewaha.

I have not examined the valley of the Ohau, the next river to the northward of the Otaki, but prospectors found a good deal of gold in the terraces of that river, although not enough to pay.

The Otaki reefs ought of course to be traced if possible to the Ohau, and it seems to me that the gold found in the terraces is strong corroborative evidence of the auriferous character of the reefs, and also that the particular reefs about which I write are the true mineral lodes of the district.

I wish it particularly to be borne in mind that I found no signs of mineral veins in ascending the Otaki River until I reached the reefs in question on the Waiotauheru.

Now that the Hakatarewaha is opened by a road, it would be comparatively easy to prospect that valley; and I am inclined to think that if the line of strike of the Otaki reefs were first obtained, and then followed into the Hakatarewaha, reefs in that valley would be soon picked up, if not obvious without adopting this plan.

These reefs are naturally most easily found in sections of river banks, and this mode of discovering them is the best in the upper parts of the rivers. When, however, the rivers have spread out into valleys, and have formed large deposits of alluvium or of shingle, then they prove of little or no assistance.

It would be advisable to examine the upper part of the Hutt River, and of its tributaries, to ascertain whether or not any reefs crop out there.

With regard to what I call the eastern line of reefs I cannot speak so positively. I have found the stone about Orongorongo, and I am told that it is found all the way up that valley. As I have said above, I have seen it in the Wainuiomata, and indications of it about Drake's Elbow. Indications may also be found along the road between the Pakuratahi and the Rimutaka saddle. The whole line requires further prospecting.

I would by no means discourage further search in the direction of Makara. A considerable quantity of gold has been found there, but the reef has not yet been struck. If, however, the particular kind of quartz which I point out be carefully looked for, and if found in veins then followed up, we may perhaps arrive at a satisfactory result after all.