662 Transactions. — Geology. 



rise. Exce-iDtions are the rain of the 1st and 2nd January, 

 which did not affect the shallow well although the deep well 

 rose, and the rains of the third week in November, which had 

 no effect on either of the wells. In both these cases several 

 weeks of drought had preceded the rain, and it seems pro- 

 bable that the dry ground soaked up the water and allowed 

 none to penetrate to the reservoirs connected with the 

 wells. 



But, although the wells rise with rain, they also rise with- 

 out any rain being recorded. This may, j)erhaps, be some- 

 times due to rain falling outside Christchurch — especially in 

 cases like those of 2oth July, 27th November, 12th De- 

 cember, 16th and 27th March, and 9th May, when the 

 shallow well rose rather before rain fell in Christchurch. On 

 the 26th December heavy rain fell at Springfield and the 

 Malvern Hills, although none fell at Christchurch. Both 

 wells fell that day, but next day the deep well rose slightly, 

 although the shallow well still fell. 



Far more important is the periodical rise shown on Sun- 

 days and holidays, which cannot possibly be due to rain, and 

 which is specially noticeable in the rise of the shallow well 

 every Sunday. This well really rises every night, and on 

 Sunday morning does not fall as it does on week-days. The 

 rise varies from ^in. to l^in., and the average is rather more 

 than fin. The same occurs with the deep well, but it is 

 masked by the great and rapid fluctuations which take place 

 in this well. These, as recorded on Sundays, vary between 

 — lin. and -f din ; but here also the average comes out about 

 fin. rise. On the Prince of Wales' Birthday (9th November), 

 Christmas Day (Tuesday), and Good Friday (12th April), 

 both the wells rose. On th^ Queen's Birthday (24th May) 

 the shallow well rose and the deep well fell. On the anniver- 

 sary of the province (Monday, 17th December) both wells fell, 

 just as they generally do on a Monday. Easter Monday was 

 rainy, and the wells rose with the rain. This periodic rise 

 must depend on a constant supply of water, either from some 

 lower-lying water-stratum or from the bed of the Eiver 

 Waimakariri. 



I have been unable to get complete information about the 

 floods which took place in the Eiver Waimakariri during the 

 year, but I kept a record of the north-west winds, and these 

 are generally followed by floods ; and, as these are the only 

 floods unaccompanied by ram, they are the only ones which 

 can be used to ascertain if the level of the wells is affected by 

 the height of the river. 



Hot north-west winds occurred on the following days : 

 19th October, 9th and 10th November, 13th November, 24th 

 November, 1st December, 17th December, 7th, 8th, and 9th 



