Hill. — The Great Wairarapa : A Lost River. 



429 



Art. XLIV. — The Great Wairarapa : A Lost River. 

 By H. Hill, B.A., F.G.S. 



[Read before the Hawkers Bay Philosophical Society, July, 1908.] 



Some time ago, when dealing with the artesian beds forming the Heretaunga 

 Plain, passing reference was made to a large river that at one time flowed 

 through what is now a portion of the ocean, and known as Hawke's Bay. 

 At that time the extent of the river towards the north and west had not been 

 determined, but, as further information has now been obtained, a descrip- 

 tion of the river and the physical changes throughout the district that have 

 taken place since then are here summarised. 



ooimicc & 

 tianitc-peat areas 



20 30 mite^ 



39 S. Lat. 



Fi(i. 1. — East Coast between 38° and 40^ S. before Subsidence. 



The description will be Umited to the upper portion of the river, from its 

 source as far as the northern end of what is known as the Forty-mile Bush, 

 some miles to the south of the parallel of 40° south latitude. 



The east coast of this Island from East Cape to Castle Point presents 

 features that imply important physical changes at no distant date. Hawke's 

 Bay water-area is a deep bight, with Portland Island and the Mahia Peninsula 

 at the northern entrance, and Cape Kidnappers at the southern. The bay 



