344 Transactions. 



evidence. Even if we accept the statements previously quoted in regard to 

 this, it is known that there are no surface-features that show that this ice 

 «ver extended to the' coast. The stated union of this supposed mass of ice 

 with an iinaginary extension of the South Victoria ice is nothing more 

 than a guess. If evidence is wanted in its favour, it must be sought mainly 

 on the islands between New Zealand and South Victoria Land. If the ice- 

 sheet extended northwards as suggested, it must have passed over these 

 islands, and on their surface should be found the usual efl'ects of a moving 

 sheet of ice. It is also reasonable to expect to find similar effects of a 

 southern ice-sheet on the low-lying parts of the southern and eastern coast- 

 line of New Zealand. 



In 1907 an expedition from New Zealand visited these islands wdth the 

 object of studying all .their natural features. The geologists attached to 

 the expedition paid special attention to the evidence that the surface 

 features of the islands offered in favour of or against the idea of a period 

 of glaciation. The decision was quite unanimous in regard to this matter. 

 All were agreed that there was every indication that glaciers had flowed out 

 radially from the higher lands, and had eroded the deep valleys that now 

 iorm secure harbours. Agreement was quite as unanimous that the islands 

 showed no indications that they had been subject to the erosion of a sheet 

 of ice of polar origin : there are no erratics, or perched blocks, or rocks of 

 foreign origin ; there are no ice-worn surfaces on the hill-tops ; there was 

 no development of that peculiar topography characteristic of the work of an 

 ice-sheet. The whole aspect of these islands was considered to negative 

 ihe idea that a polar ice-sheet had passed over them. There is absolutely 

 no evidence that an ice-sheet from the south reached New Zealand : there 

 are no rocks from that land described ; there are no moraines on the low- 

 lying coastal lands ; there are no ice-worn surfaces near the coast ; there 

 are no characteristic features of glacial erosion near the southern coast. 



There is yet another line of reasoning, widely different from any of the 

 preceding. It depends upon the w^ell-known peculiarities of the fauna and 

 flora of the outlying islands in the south. The amount of material avail- 

 able in connection with this matter is very great, and in this paper it is 

 impossible to do more than state the general conclusions. Many species of 

 birds belonging to genera well known in New Zealand and not character- 

 istic of ts colder districts have developed peculiar modifications that indi- 

 cate that the different island groups have been isolated for a long period, 

 and during this isolation have not been subjected to a specially cold climate. 

 Exactly similar results have been arrived at from a study of the plants ; 

 but in this case there are genera that are unknown outside the islands. 



Geologically interpreted, these facts mean that any elevation that has 

 affected these islands since at least the Pliocene period must have been very 

 slight, for an elevation of less than 1,000 ft. would connect the Auckland 

 Islands with New Zealand, and the striking peculiarities of its animals and 

 plants would, if such an elevation had taken place, have entirely disap- 

 peared. ■ 



Glaciation of the North Island. 



In a paper read at the last meeting of this Institute a statement was 

 made about glaciation in the Ruapehu region. The evidence offered in 

 proof of thi , glaciation consisted in the occurrence of supposed boulder-clay 

 between Utiku and Waiouru, and the so-called glacial topography on the 

 liills near Taihape. 



