Wellington Philosophical Society. 489 



stitute " Professor Hutton sought to show that the Waihao Forks green- 

 sands do not underlie the limestones of the Oamaru s3-stem at that place ; 

 and Mr. McKa}', in reply, endeavoured to prove that they do. In vol. xx., 

 "Trans. N.Z. Inst.," Professor Hutton admits there is a greensand under 

 the limestone, but contends that it is not the greensand equivalent to 

 that at the Waihao Forks, which, as appears, he still regards as younger 

 than the Waihao limestone. Mr. McKay also admits the occurrence of 

 two distinct deposits or bands of greensand, but he maintains that both 

 have a position inferior to the Waihao limestone. 



Mr. Park said there was really no geology in this paper ; it was merely 

 an explanation of some personal differences between the author and 

 Professor Hutton. He deplored the fact that personalities should find 

 their way into scientific discussions, and thought it would be wise to 

 exclude such papers from publication. 



5. Mr. James Wallace gave an interesting account of the recent dis- 

 covery of manganese upon property near the Wellington-lNIanawatu 

 Railway Company's line. He stated that a quantity had been sent home 

 for a professional opinion as to its real value. He stated that upon 

 analysis in the Colonial Laboratory the ores yielded, in the case of the 

 oxide, 75 per cent., and of the carbonate, 84 per cent, of manganese. 



Mr. McKay considered this an important discovery : it occurred in very 

 large blocks, and would no doubt prove of commercial value. 



Mr. Hughes, who had also visited the locality and seen the deposit, 

 spoke highly of it. He had sent samples to England for expert opinion. 



FouKTH Meeting: 22nd August, 1888. 

 W. M. Maskell, F.E.M.S., President, in the chair. 

 New Member. — A. B. Key worth. 



Papers. — 1. " On the Oil-bearing Strata of the North 

 Island," by J. Park, F.G.S. 



Abstract. 



Mr. Park said that the oil-strata of this island belonged to two forma- 

 tions—one of pleistocene and the other of cretaceous age. The former in- 

 cluded the petroleum springs at Taranaki, and the latter the oil-rocks at 

 the east coast of Wellington and Poverty Bay. The geological conditions 

 and the surface-evidences of oil at these places were discussed at con- 

 siderable length. On the east coast of Wellington the strongest gas- 

 spring was that at Blairlogie, the flow of gas being about equal to the 

 discharge of an inch pipe. The oil-strata, consisting of slaty shales and 

 crumbling marly clays, were everywhere much shattered and contorted. 

 The gas-spring at Langdale was unlike any other in the district. The gas 

 was sulphuretted hydrogen, and the water accompanying the gas belonged 

 to the sulphurous or hepatic class of mineral waters, which possess 

 valuable medicinal properties. The gas-springs at Ika, Aohanga, and 

 Akitio were feeble compared with that at Blairlogie. Passing on to 

 Poverty Bay, Mr. Park said that the first report on the district was made 

 by Sir James Hector in 1873. Gas-springs were numerous throughout 

 the whole district, and at places oil oozed from the rocks and collected on 

 the surface of lagoons and pools. The author quoted from the reports of 

 Sir James Hector and Mr. McKay to show the character of the oil-strata, 

 which consist of grey contorted sandstones and dark-grey shaly marls. 

 The strata are everywhere much disturbed and broken. At Taranaki the 

 oil-strata consist of volcanic agglomerates and tufaceous sandstones, 



