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600 ft., from which one or two good shots of observation can be got in the direction of the Sound. There are a number of likely creeks along the track, carrying quartz boulders, but no gold was found. The blazed track terminates at the forks of the river in a basin, where the remains of a camp will be found. Fairly good gold was got at the forks, but it was not enough, considering the remote isolated position of the place. Prospects were obtained all up the river as far as the gorge, a distance of six or seven miles. Following the creek from the right-hand branch, we reached a height of about 2,000 ft., through which was an extremely tough belt of timber. The climbing was awful, a great portion of the belt being sheer precipice. The level opened out in a vast plateau, backed up by the superior range, which soared up from I,oooft. to 1,500 ft. higher. Here we could see the main branch of the river, which rose with a rapid grade towards the northwest, while the plateau fell in that direction by a gradual slope until it reached the river-bank. On the opposite side the country again rose with a uniform grade until it reached the level of what has been named Glen Alpine Pass—a most remarkable wedged-shaped saddle leading down to, and bordering on, Dusky. The plateau, as well as the side of the superior range, is a vast succession of quartz-blows cropping out upon the surface, in many instances acres in extent. This formation continues as far as the eye can reach, and probably the same description of country will be found all the way through to Dusky Sound. A more dreary desolate region could not be found, and, in the present condition of things, it would be madness for any man to attempt to work it, at least until tracks are made to open this part of the country up. This is what is designated " Auriferous Belt No. 3." It would only be the boldest class of digger, well equipped, and supplied with, say, six months' provisions, who would dare to face it at present. " Timber-belts. " With the exception of a few thousand acres open tussocky land at Cunaris, and mountain tops situated above the 2,000 ft. level, the country is densely timbered. Even the naked granite in many places carries a family of pines. The magical faculty displayed by vegetation in relieving the then naked deformity of some vast geological tragedy by which these fearful chasms were rent and riven, behind draperies of fresh and verdant green, is one of the marvels of the scene. It is, indeed, astonishing how all that terrible smash and smithereen is rendered fair, if not lovely, by climbing files of pines, which thread every gorge and camp in armies on giddy precipices and aerial crags. The prevailing timber is red-pine with clusters of totara. The former, as a rule, of gigantic growth, 60ft. and 70ft. high, clean built, and regular in every outline. The most accessible at present is that growing on what has already been distinguished as Auriferous Belt No. 1. It is intersected by two of the best ports for shipment in the place—namely, Cuttle Cove on the one side, and South Port on the other. Although less convenient there are a number of bights and coves further up Chalky Inlet which might be utilised to some purpose for timber in that locality. The south bank of Cunaris, also densely timbered, supplies conveniences, so that the belt, on the whole, commands ample scope for transitu. The head of the Sound, on both the east and west sides, also commands vast tracts of good available timber, at each of which direct shipment could easily be provided for. The cove at the head of Bdwardson's Sound is also surrounded by timber tracts, with rivers penetrating into the interior, down which rafts could be brought from a great distance. The waterfalls might be obstacles, but they would not prove absolute barriers. The timber will, without doubt, be a flourishing trade in these fiords in the near future. "Lakes. " These are, so to speak, gems in New Zealand scenery conterminous to two of the grand tourists' tracks in the colony, but, as things stand, inaccessible to both the Manapouri Lake on the one side, and Dusky Sound and the Fiords on the other. If grandly diversified scenerymountain, wood, and flood in new aspects and fresh combinations—be material to the fortunes of New Zealand, in these lakes she has a fund to draw upon which ought to be of some account in the wealth of nations. Five or six miles of made track would place them in direct communication with Dusky Sound on the one hand, and Chalky Inlet on the other. In a word, it would provide a through route far and away superior to anything New Zealand produced in scenic effect. Then, again, a branch from the Dusky Track could be carried up the valley of the Seaforth, as delineated in the explorations of Messrs. Mackenzie and Pillans, and on to Manapouri, thereby bringing the lakes, the fiords, and the Manapouri into the combination of a through route. There are beaches and belts of country alongside these lakes which, for sanatorium purposes, would yield large groundrentals, sufficient to defray the preliminary cost of opening out. It would be an incentive to mining operations on the more remote hills especially, if the digger knew there was a chance of casual employment being obtained at these outlandish spots. In that way reproductive works and auriferous research would be made to go hand in hand and become mutually beneficial. " The approach to the lakes from Chalky requires a few directions. Nestling amongst bush at the upper end of the cove, on the right-hand side, nearly opposite the entrance from the Sound, there is a river. Looking up from its mouth a miniature waterfall will be seen. On the right-hand, almost alongside the fall, there is a ledge of rocks which serves the purpose of a natural wharf, close at hand to the landing there is an old camp; beyond the camp a well-defined track has been cut and blazed, which leads over the shoulder of a head post —the head of Cora Lynn-—to the banks of the first lake. En route the bush has been hewn so as to afford a view of Cora Lynn. On the banks of the lake, at the end of the track, a large hut has been erected with eight bunks. The lakes' boat, provided out of Government subsidy, is, or at all events was, safely stowed away in the ing cove. It is a good handy craft for the lakes navigation. Fish at the head of the Sound are abundant; a superior class of eels is plentiful in the lakes, especially about the mouths of the creeks and rivers. Everywhere towards the head waters kakapos are abundant; there are also kakas, ducks, teal, and pigeons, but the latter are by no means numerous, at all events they did not seem so during my stay in this neighbourhood Wild pigs, cattle, and rabbits are unknown.