a—3

90

To the east of Coghill's is Sutherland's Hill, where there is a considerably larger area of quartz drift. Here also the upper portion is cemented, and the lower portion loose drift. This place has not been prospected, but it is quite as likely to contain gold as Coghill's Hill. Water could be brought on to some parts of the ground. On the east side of Waitahuna Gully there are several patches of quartz drift, known to be auriferous. The available water that would command this ground is utilised in Waitahuna Gully in connection with the breccia deposit, similar to the material worked at the Blue Spur. At Manuka Hill—Coomb's claim— there is a small area of quartz drift which paid very well for working. Conditions were the same as at Coghill's Hill; and the material had to be taken down the hill to the west branch of Tokomairiro Eiver to be washed. South of this, and west of Glenore Railway-station, considerable areas of this drift rest on the top of the hills. The dip of the beds being south, they pass under the coal-measures at Lovell's Mat, and extend along the foot of the hills to Stony Creek, and show in many places in the railway-cuttings between Lovell's Flat and Stirling. Quartz drifts are developed to a large extent over the area of the Kaitangata Coalfield, and they are well exposed in section on the coast-line, near Coal Point, where they are said to be gold-bearing. The same material is also exposed in Fraser's Creek, which discharges into the Kaitangata Lake. The drifts here frequently alternate with beds of slaty breccia, the same as at the Blue Spur. At Green Island, Saddle Hill, and Silver Stream there are large areas of quartz drifts which have not yet been prospected. Also, there is a large area of the same material to the north of Waikouaiti, within the watershed of Pleasant Eiver, on Hummock side, west of the Stoneburn, and within the valleys of Moonlight, Nenthorn, and Deepdell Creeks, and on the slope of the Taieri Eidge to Strath Taieri. There are, or have been, rich workings in these beds at Macrae's, Horse Mat, Station Hill, Fullarton, and the Mareburn. Between Tapanui Eiver and the Mataura Eiver, and from the railway-line to the Waikaka Diggings, there is a large area of the quartz-drift, within which is situate the Waikaka and McKenzie Diggings, and many small areas of this material have been worked on Knapdale Eun. Gold was first discovered in this district by Gabriel Eeid, at Land-slip Hill, in 1862. The washdrift at Waikaka is somewhat peculiar. There is a total absence of rough rubble and creek-shingle, the wash consisting purely of quartz pebbles and sand, which on the terraces is covered by a variable depth of loam. The surface-wash rests on the upturned edges of the older quartz-drift, some bands of which are highly auriferous. A shaft was sunk at the back of the Waikaka Township n one of these quartz-drift lands to a depth of 120 ft., following a particular stratum to that depth. The amount of gold obtained does not seem to have been sufficient to pay for working, as the work has been suspended. It is a field for hydraulic sluicing, and is not ground that can be worked by driving it out. The principal gold-bearing area at Switzer's lies on the east side of the valley. The northern part exposes the quartz drift, the eastern and southern parts being principally " Maori bottom," or what is termed " Old-man Beef," from beneath which the quartz drift appears in the south-west part of the area. The largest quantity of gold found at Switzer's has been got on the " Maori bottom," but three or four claims are working on the quartz drift on the southern part of the field. On the northern part several claims have been worked in this drift, but they are now abandoned. On the west side of the river—Muddy Creek —the modern drifts are a mixture of rough shingle and quartz drift, constituting shallow workings, resting on a slate bottom. At Muddy Creek these drifts are worked as well as other workings on the " Maori bottom." At the Nevis- the quartz-drift is present on both sides of the valley. Near the township the beds are vertical, and somewhat resemble the Blue Spur deposits. More to the north the beds are pure quartz grit, and are continued in a narrow line deeply involved between the older rocks in a line across the hill to Gibbston, and again appear as a small patch on the opposite side of the river, near the Cardrona Saddle, and again at Mr. McDougal's coal-mine at the Upper Cardrona. At Barmockburn the quartz drift is largely obscured by the " mountain-wash." It shows however, at the surface near Angel's Hotel, in the upper township, and formed the bottom, i many of the large sluieing-claims. The grit-beds, being nearly vertical, are promising in character, but have not been prospected. This line runs along the foot of the Carrick Eange to the Kawarau Station, and thence into the Upper Bannockburn. On the east side of the Lower Bannockburn there is also a large development of this drift. North-east of the Kawarau Gorge this line of drift should be continued along the foot of the Mount Pisa Eange, but heavy gravel terraces of more recent date overlies and obscures it, the gold-workings at Lowburn and other creeks being probably supplied with gold from the gravels of more modern date. The older workings on the north side of Luggate Creek and Criffel were in some parts very rich, but the area of the quartz drift here is of limited extent, and is nearly worked out. The more extensive deposit known as "Fat Boy" lies on the south eastern side of the Luggate, and extends south-east and north-west for about four miles of a variable width of from 4 to 15 chains. On the western side the drift is faulted downwards against a schist rock, and on that side the ground is deep. Naumann and party, who hold the northern portion of this line, have been engaged in prospecting the ground for the past two years, but so far have not met with great success. A line of deeply-involved gold-bearing strata runs along the middle part of Criffel Face from Mount Barker to opposite the Cardrona Township. This line appears to be auriferous throughout, as it is being worked at Mount Barker, and has been proved auriferous in the middle part, and again being worked opposite Cardrona Township. Another long line of quartz drift extends from Bob's Cove, on the northern shore of Lake Wakatipu, across Moke Creek, Moonlight Creek, Stony Creek, and Skipper's, to the eastern slopes of Mount Aurum. Along this line the quartz grits are usually indurated into a hard rock ; they are not, therefore, likely to pay for working for the gold they contain.