BY PROFESSOR STEPHENS, M.A., F.G.S., &C. 515 



The Northern Island of New Zealand, inhabited by a race of 

 Maoris far more hot-blooded and volcanic in temperament than 

 their congeners in the Middle portion of this half-insular half- 

 continental region, is in itself likewise distinguished by the fiery 

 and stormy conditions of its subterranean energies from its more 

 mature and tranquil neighbour. The forces which have been at 

 work in the Middle Island have long been reduced to the condition 

 of strains and tensions, which as they gradually overpower the 

 resistance which deeply folded masses of rock oppose to their 

 energy, may perhaps result in earthquakes, but no longer cause, 

 and probably never again will cause, true volcanic action. 



But in the Northern Island, however ancient the origin or first 

 outbreak of these eruptive forces may be, they have continued to 

 the present day, enfeebled indeed like all other forces by expen- 

 diture of energy and lapse of time, but still furnishing us with a 

 sort of museum of specimens for all kinds of volcanic actions and 

 products, which has not as yet been quite sufficiently arranged 

 or even catalogued for scientific purposes. 



The turbulent and dangerous fanaticism of certain tribes of 

 Maoris has been, I presume, the main cause of the still existing 

 obscurity and uncertainty upon these heads. This, however, no 

 longer remaining as an obstacle, and a staff of most competent 

 observers being naturally summoned to the scene by the thunders 

 of Tarawera, we may confidently look forward to a not distant 

 period when this district shall be as thoroughly studied and 

 familiar to the geologist as that of Vesuvius. 



The cordillera or backbone of the mountain system of New 

 Zealand runs in a general direction from N.E. to S.W. This 

 structure is clearly shown by the sea-contour of the Middle and 

 South Islands, but is masked in the North Island by a broad 

 spur or N.W. upheaval which brings the northern line of 

 emergence into a position almost at right angles to the main 

 strike of the rocks which form the southern mass. N.E. of 

 Cook's Straits, however, these older formations retain their 

 leading bias of fold and something of their altitude. They form 

 the south-west coast which stretches from Wellington to East 



