66 



to have been almost and totally submerged during the period 

 when these Tertiary deposits were formed. The coast line 

 then consisted of Mount Cameron, Bayleny Hill, and the 

 other highlands intervening between these and the Blue Tier, 

 the few elevated ridges such as the Ringarooma Tier, the Long 

 Marsh Tier, and other highlands scattered sparingly through- 

 out the district, were thus probably but little elevated above 

 the level of the sea, — they are all capped with Basalt or Green- 

 stone, and probably are indebted to that fact for their immu- 

 nity from destruction. A feature common to all sandy coast 

 lines is strikingly shown, at various points along the beach 

 between the mouth of the Ringarooma and Cape Portland, 

 viz., the progress of a sort of wave or avalanche of sand, from 

 the line of sand hills upon the beach across the flat low land 

 behind it. They are often of no considerable with, but simply 

 progress forward, steadily, invariably, covering over, and 

 burying everything which lies in their course, one of these 

 drifts nearly embraced the dwelling house ast Cape Portland, 

 by good fortune it passed a little on one side, and the house 

 was thus preserved from destruction, which would otherwise 

 have been inevitable in the course of a few years. With this fact 

 so prominently brought under one's notice upon the beach, 

 and with regard to existing sand dunes, it is interesting to 

 find its counterpart upon the hills, and with regard to those 

 of a Tertiary period, this is the case along the flanks of the 

 Kingarooma Tier, where the practised eye will recognize the 

 presence of long ridges of drifted sand overlying and conceal- 

 ing the mass of rock constituting the hill below, and evidently 

 referable to the cause alluded to. 



I am at present engaged upon a manuscript map of all the 

 North East part of the Colony, which I hope to be able to 

 submit to the Society at the next meeting. This will embrace 

 all the rich basaltic land lying in the vicinity of the Einga- 

 rooma, and a large extent of country previously unvisited. I 

 shall reserve my remarks upon the general Geology of the 

 district till that occasion, and trust that these few will not be 

 unacceptable to the Society. 



I am, 



Yours very truly. 



J. W. Agnew, Esq., M.D., 

 Hon. Secretary to the 

 Koyal Society. 



CHAELES GOULD. 



