276 Transactions. 



current-bedded, and loose and cemented sandy gravels with numerous 

 fossils similar to the beds exposed in the Lower Waipara Gorge. The highest 

 bed of this series exposed in the valley of the stream consists of greenish 

 sandv clay, which weathers a light brown, and contains fossil shells. Its 

 upper surface has been distinctly eroded, and on it rests a heavy layer of 

 cemented gravel, and following this are sandy clays and gravel beds dipping 

 south-east at angles of 10°. These beds pass upward into the gravel beds 

 exposed on the cliffs of the river below the junction with the tributarv. In 

 the tributary mentioned above I could find no indication of an eroded surface 

 analogous to that in the main stream, and so it may be an unconformity 

 of local character similar to those recorded elsewhere, but it may indicate a 

 decided unconformity between the Motunau and the Kowai series. 



It is owing to the typical development of these gravels and the beds 

 associated with them in the Kowai River, not only in this locality but in the 

 south branch as well, that I have called them the Kowai series. It is 

 possible, however, that the lower part of this group of beds may be equivalent 

 to the upper part of the Motunau series, and subsequent investigation may 

 show the term to be unnecessary. 



In No. 2 Creek, a southern tributary of the North Kowai, there is a very 

 important section. Just below the high bluff on the north side, about four 

 miles above the junction, the stream has exposed the following beds : — 



1. Greenish sands, becoming more clayey in the upper portions and passing 



up into sandy shale. 



2. Lignite, very impure, 10 in. thick, striking east-north-east and dipping 



north-north-west at 5°. 



3. Argillaceous sands, decidedly clayey above the coal but becoming more 



sandy and greenish in colour higher up. The thickness exposed is 

 about 6 ft., but it is eroded, and sandy gravels rest on it uncon- 

 formably. An eroded surface appears just below this in the bed 

 of the stream, with an angular mass of green sandy clay embedded 

 in the gravel. 



In close proximity to the erosion surface there is another section showing 

 the same features, but with only 3 ft. of bed 3 interposed between the coal 

 and the gravels. 



Just over the dividing-ridge between this and the South Kowai River 

 there are high cliffs, facing south, composed of similar beds, with gravels more 

 strongly developed in the higher levels, and dipping south at angles about 5°. 

 Thus an anticlinal axis runs east-north-east along the ridge in close proximity 

 to the road which runs along the crest. 



Just at the point where the stream turns after leaving the steeper slopes 

 of Mount Grey, and assumes a north-easterly course, coal and associated 

 beds are exposed in its actual channel and in the bank of a small gully on 

 the southern side. They consist of — 



1. Greenish sands, passing up into sandy clays. 



2. Impure lignite. 



3. Clai/s succeeded by greenish sandy clays. 



4. Gravels, mixed with sand, cemented with iron oxide. 



5. Greenish sandy clays. 



6. Cemented gravels. 



These beds strike north-east, and dip north-west at an angle of 5°. 



When followed up-stream there is an alternation of sands and gravels, 

 apparently conformable to the beds just enumerated, exposed in the slips 



