448 Transactions. — Geology. 



occurred so sparingly that I was compelled to search all 

 the side branches of the main stream lest I should pass the 

 parent rock to the right or left. This work occupied much 

 time, but satisfied me that I was on the right track in follow- 

 ing up the main stream. 



I had now reached back to the flanks of Mount Mary. 

 The descent of the stream was rapid, and, instead of a wide 

 boulder-strewn bed, the course of the stream was a narrow 

 rock -cut channel. The elevation was over 3,000 ft., and 

 I was now convinced that I had reached a position beyond 

 all possible influence of ancient glacier-ice from South Canter- 

 bury. Huge masses of fossiliferous rock occurred in the chan- 

 nel at intervals, and at the big waterfall, at 4,000 ft. above 

 the sea, I found indistinct traces of fossils in highly indurated 

 greenish-grey altered sandstones. Blocks of fossiliferous rock 

 were now more plentiful, and, having the basin at the source 

 of the stream immediately above me, I was at last satisfied 

 that the fossiliferous outcrop was not far distant. 



The evening was now approaching, and, being alone and 

 far from m.y headquarters, I was compelled to retrace my steps 

 without visiting the main outcrop, which I afterwards found 

 was within view of the waterfall. 



Three weeks later I again visited the Waitaki, on this 

 occasion accompanied by Mr. A. Hamilton, who was greatly 

 interested in the discovery. 



We directed our way at once to the big waterfall near the 

 source of the Awahokomo, and, after a stiff scramble, at a 

 height of 5,160 ft. reached the main outcrop from which the 

 fossiliferous boulders had been shed. 



The outcrop lies on the left or west side of the basin at the 

 source of the stream, at some 500 ft. below the summit of the 

 range. Fossils wore found in three zones in a thickness of 

 50 ft. of strata. The two lower zones are altered slaty shales 

 and the upper a bed of conglomerate. In the two lower zones 

 fossils are very abundant and generally well preserved. The 

 Athyris, Sjnrifera, and Sjnnferina are especially large and 

 fine, although many spechiiens are much crushed and dis- 

 torted. 



The fossiliferous rocks are distinctly altered and closely 

 associated with altered sandstones, and with slates which are 

 almost identical with the slates at Otepopo. They follow the 

 phyllites, quartzites, and altered rocks of the " Kurovv schists " 

 in a direct stratigraphical succession. 



The strike of the strata from the foot of the range to the 

 summit is N.W.-S.E., and the dip S.W. Excepting in one 

 or two places, where the strata exhibit minor folds or corru- 

 gations, the general strike and dip are remarkably uniform 

 throughout, and in the rock-cut course of the Awahokomo the 



