398 Transactions. 



In 1919 I pointed out that the blue mudstones of the Palliser Bay dis- 

 trict, which in their upper part contain a Waitotaran and probably above 

 that also a Castlecliffian fauna, also contain Oamaruian species near the 

 base. Those collected were Antigona zelandica (Gray), Cominella adspersa 

 (Brug.), C. purchasi^nt., Dosinia anus (Phil.), D. subrosea {Gxslj), DentaUum 

 solidum Hutt., Galeodea senex (Hutt.j, Paphia curta (Hutt.), Polinices gib- 

 bosus (Hutt.) ?, Stnithiolaria tuherculata var., *S. papidosa var. While the 

 Oamaruian afi&nities of this fauna are apparent, three species — viz., 

 Cominella adspersa, C. purchasi, and Dosinia anus — are not known from the 

 Oamaruian of Otago and South Canterbury. It seems quite possible that 

 this fauna will prove to be intermediate between the Awamoan and the 

 Waitotaran. 



In 1919 Bartrum also described a series of beds at Kawa Creek which 

 overlie Oamaruian beds unconformably, but contain a fauna with strong 

 Oamaruian affinities, although the percentage of Recent species is 62 in a 

 collection of 74 species. The percentage of records in the various stages is 

 as follows : Wangaloa and Hampden beds, 8 ; Waiarekan, 42 ; Ototaran, 

 50 ; Hutchinsonian, 54 ; Awamoan, 64 ; Waitotaran, 62 ; Castlecliffian, 68. 

 Probably when a fuller list of Waitotaran species is available for comparison 

 Bartrum's conclusion that the famia is intermediate between Awamoan and 

 Wanganuian will be substantiated. 



DIASTROPHIC PROVINCES IN NEW ZEALAND. 



In 1917 I discussed the application of diastrophic criteria to the corre- 

 lation and classification of the younger rocks of New Zealand, and while 

 agreeing with Marshall, Speight, and Cotton (1911) and later expressed 

 views by Marshall on a certain diastrophic unity of all these younger rocks, 

 necessitating the use of an inclusive name, for which I proposed "Notoceiie," 

 I gave briefly the evidence for the existence of minor diastrophic districts 

 during the general relative crustal inactivity between the great post-Hokonui 

 and Kaikoura deformations. This evidence consisted of the differences in 

 age of the oldest and youngest marine Notocene rocks of different districts, 

 proving differences in the dates of sea-advance and sea-retreat in these 

 districts, and also differences in age of the main limestone member of the 

 sequence in different districts — viz., the Amuri, Ototara, and Takaka lime- 

 stones — proving that the period of maximum sea-advance was not every- 

 where contemporaneous. To avoid confusion between geographical and 

 diastrophic districts, I propose now to call the latter " provinces." 



Marshall (1919), who appears to have misunderstood the argument, states, 

 "I can reasonably hold that no proof has been given of these supposed ' 

 local diastrophic movements in New Zealand, and I can quote the Oamaru 

 district, at least, as one in which the Tertiary strata are continuous over a 

 large district without any indication of being affected by local diastrophic 

 action." It is evident that I stated the argument too briefly by omitting to 

 define more explicitly the diastrophic provinces. This omission I remedied 

 last year (1919, p. 310), when I defined the provinces of the east-coast of the 

 South Island. The Oamaru geographical district, which is understood as 

 comprising the coastal area between the Kakanui and Waitaki Rivers, but 

 excludes Shag Point, forms, with the adjacent Waitaki, Waihao, Pareora, 

 Kakahu, and Mount Somers districts, a diastrophic province extending from 

 the Kakanui to the Rakaia Rivers, and I quite agree with Marshall that 

 within it there is no diversity of diastrophism exclusive of local volcanic 

 phenomena. Excluding the variations due to the development of volcanic 

 rocks, foimd chiefly in the Oamaru and Mount Somers districts, the strati- 

 graphical sequence and fossils of these districts are almost identical. The 



