He says :—": — " little is known of the in terior of the Islani ; what is, favors the sup position that it is rich in mineral wealth. Copper has been found, as also lead-ore im pregnated with silver. Tbe deposits of iron sand are considerable, not only in the liar bars, but, as lam informed, in the interior — particularly in a species of rift between Halfmoon JBay and Faterson Inlet, where the deposit is very great, estimated to exceed that at Taranaki. A parcel of this was sent some time ago for assay to Melbourne ; and the assayers for the Victorian Government, and the Oriental Bank, after smelting and manufacturing a steel bar from it, reported that it was not only superior to the Taranaki but contained a sufficient quantity of gold to pay the expenses of smelting." If the above statement be borne out by facts, and subsequent tests, this should surely become a valuable export before many years. A very ingenious method by which it might be exported at small cost, is suggested as follows : —

"This sand would form rich ballast for wool-ships from Otago, and could be put on board with ease, and at no great expense, as there is alwaps deep water in the harbors. With plentiful labor at command, probably such a course will be adopted by captains of vessels, and the export form another source of employment ; though lam inclined to think the richest deposits will, when the subject has attained greater notoriety, and leases can be granted, be worked by com panies, obtaining the coal required for the works, at a reasonable cost from the main, where it will, lam sure, be discovered ere long." As regards gold mining, in the usual acceptation of that term, Mr Pearson does n,jt appear to hold out any very fascinating pAspects. What he does say, however, taAn in connection with the remarks of Black on the same subject, is < i^L sufficient to justify the ex- that patient aad well directed efi^Rin this direction would eventually be ataply rewarded. 