Oliver. — GeoJor/i/ of flu Kermader /sJttitds. 533 



at one place only, the Lava Cascade. Mount Haszavd. the highest point 

 above sea-level, 230 m., is near the western side, and from here the land 

 slopes away gradually to the eastward. Several deep ravines have been 

 cut through the pumice tuffs by the action of rain-water. 



The base of the island is composed of flows of basalt (No. 42), the upper 

 surface of which, from being fairly high in the western cliffs, falls rapidly 

 at first, and is then nearly horizontal. The basalt collected by Mr. Smith, 

 and described by Professor Thomas (1888, p. 312), came from the Lava 

 Cascade, which, according to Mr. Smith (1888, p. 341), belongs to a period 

 later than that to which belongs the flows represented by rock No. 42. 

 Above the basalt were beds of andesitic pumice (No. 43), averaging 

 about 75 m. in thickness. From these beds Mr. Smith collected pitch- 

 stone, obsidian, and pumice, and from the surface of the island a basaltic 

 scoria (Thomas, 1888, pp. 312, 314), which forms beds of considerable thick- 

 ness overlying the pumice tufis. (Plate XXIV, fig. 2.) 



Haszard Islet is composed of lava, pumice, and scoria corresponding 

 in the relative position to the beds of Macauley Island, but dipping in the 

 opposite direction. 



Curtis Island, 



Two islets, the smaller of which is evidently but a detached jjortion 

 of the outer edge of the crater-rim of the larger, are distant 35 km. from 

 Macauley Island, and separated from one another by a strait about 400 m. 

 wide. The larger islet is a crater-rim, one side of which has been broken 

 away, giving place to a small inlet (Macdonald Cove), in which a landing 

 can be effected in easterly weather. The inner side of the crater-rim is 

 mostly precipitous, and appears to be composed mainly of volcanic tuffs. 



Over the crater-floor, about 4 m. above sea-level, are scattered many 

 holes full of boiling water or mud, and much sulphur and siliceous sinter. 

 The sea-water near the landing is kept quite warm by the hot water flowing 

 into it. (Plate XXVI.) 



French Rock. 



This most southern member of the Kermadec Group, distant 83 km. 

 from Curtis Island, is a mere rock about 250 m. in length, rising to a height 

 of about 50 m. above sea-level. It is composed of lava, including olivine- 

 andesite (No. 46), much burnt and scoriaceous in places, and piei'ced by 

 dykes. 



Conclusion. 



Here I propose to summarize the evidence relating to the origin of the 

 Kermadec Islands, referring firstly to that indicating a continental ex- 

 tension, and secondly to the several lines of evidence supporting the sup- 

 position that the islands have never exceeded much their present area. 



According to Mr. Speight, -the occurrence of many fragments of horn- 

 blende-granite in the pumice tuffs on the north coast of Sunday Island in- 

 dicates the presence in close proximity of a granite foundation which at 

 one time no doubt formed a land-surface (Speight, 1910, pp. 244, 249). Mr. 

 Speight considers the claims of the islands to be classified as continental 

 are worthy of serious consideration, and adduces certain lines of evidence,, 

 chiefly biological, to support this view. 



