444 Transactions. — Geology. 



bearing area or to a separate supply-basin. Thus, a well put 

 down for Mr. McHardy reached 403 ft., and the water rises more 

 than 30 ft. above the surface. Canon St. Hill's well is 400 ft., 

 and the rise above the surface is 35 ft. ; and yet near by another 

 well was tried to the depth of 482 ft. without rinding water. 

 The well near the Havelock Hotel is 325 ft. deep, whilst one put 

 down in Cemetery Road for Mr. Beecroft is only 177 ft. These 

 varying depths show how necessary it is to keep records of all 

 facts connected with the sinking for artesian water, as they not 

 only supply important data that is of value to the geologist, but 

 they eventually lead to generalisations of the utmost moment 

 to settlement. 



In other papers dealing with the subject of artesian wells 

 I have dealt in detail as to the probable source of supply of the 

 waters, and of the effect of high tide and of rainfall on the increase 

 and the height of flow, and it is not necessary to deal further 

 here with these aspects of inquiry. My purpose has been mainly 

 to show how the surface features of a country are ever under- 

 going change, and how these changes in a large measure are 

 modified and even brought about by movements and changes 

 that may be hundreds of miles away. It has been a long time 

 since the Kidnappers, Portland Island, the Mahia Peninsula, 

 and the north-western portion of the present bay were united, 

 and formed, with the present Heretaunga Plain, an area covered 

 with limestones and" other rocks. The subsidence that took place 

 at that time was balanced by great changes to the westward 

 and towards the centre of the Island, and since then the alter- 

 ing of the watersheds has brought about the partial refilling of 

 the subsided area, and has given this district the magnificent 

 Heretaunga Plain, with an equally magnificent artesian-water 

 supply, the value of which it would be difficult to estimate. 

 Nature's work is by no means completed. The filling-up of the 

 Whare-o-maraenui Swamp will be a great work, and those who 

 have undertaken it deserve success, for they have already earned 

 it. But when the Whare-o-maraenui Block has become the 

 abode of industrious settlers, the rivers will continue to carry 

 down their burdens of fertility in times of flood, and deposition 

 must and will take place within areas that will vary just as 

 the areas have varied ever since the filling-in began. Obser- 

 vations, the recording of facts, the recognition of common in- 

 terests and common benefits, will bring into play that foresight 

 which will tend to minimise the destructive effects of heavy 

 floods, whilst the plain will continue to extend by the filling- 

 up of the Inner Harbour, for this is the next great work that the 

 rivers Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri will accomplish. I purposely 

 leave the interesting work in connection with the filling-in of the 

 Whare-o-maraenui for another occasion. 



