352 REPORTS OP RESEARCH COMMITTEES. 



ever a large part of the regicii. As a matter of fact, there is 

 decided evidence from the flora that the climate was much milder, 

 and this evidence must be considered in connexion with that fur- 

 nished by other parts of the sub-antarctic area, which shows the 

 incidence of more genial conditions in mid-Tertiary times over 

 parts of the Antarctic continent now covered with snow and ice. 



Specimens of wood from Amiiri Bliff, identified and described 

 by Dr. M. C. Stoipes as Araurario.ri/lo/i shew that seasonal changes 

 took place in Cretaceous times (A new Araucarioxylon from New 

 Zealand, Annals of Botany, vol. 28, 1914, pp. 348-9). 



But the evidence frcin other plant remains of Upper Cretaceoius 

 and Lower Tertiary beds, based on determinations made by Von 

 Ettingphausen, is very unsatisfactory. It is a matter of some im- 

 portance that these plant fossils should be re-examined by a coim- 

 petent authority acquainted with the present flora, and I think 

 that a recommendation from this Committee would carry some 

 weight. A oomprehensive report om the ecillecticns actually 

 existent in different institutioins in the Dominion, in addition to 

 the further collections that might be made under the stimulus of 

 the possibility oif their proper description, would be of the greatest 

 advantage tO' the elucidation not only of the climate ol Lower 

 Tertiary times but also of the stratigraphy of the New Zealand 

 Tertiary sequence. As far as the collections in the Canterbury 

 Museum are concerned, every assistance will be rendere'd any 

 one taking in hand their re-eixamination. 



The following facts indicate clearly that the climate was de- 

 cidedly warmer in mid -Tertiary times. In the lignites at the 

 base of the Oamaruian there are the remains of a forest vegeta- 

 tion which includes representatives of the laurel, cinnamon, arau- 

 caiians, ferns, and palms. Remains of Dammnra, now restricted 

 to latitudes lower than 39 deg., occur in different parts of the 

 South Island. Palm nuts allied tO' Coros nurifera occur at Man- 

 gonui in the North Auckland Peninsula, and also near Oamaru. 

 A podocavp' allied to Fodocnipus viieiiKif; occurs in lignites near 

 Gore and in the basins of the interior of Otago, in beds classified 

 tentatively by Marshall as Pliocene, but more work will have to 

 be done on these before their age is definitely determined, and 

 this work will, no doubt, throw much light on the climatic cgn- 

 ditinns of the area when the sediments were deposited. The indi- 

 cations certainly point to a land climate several degrees warmer 

 than at present. 



The oiccurrence of numerous specimens of Fagus in Tertiary 

 beds in the North Island, recorded by Marshall, may possibly 

 indicate a cooler climate towards the end of the era, but at the 

 present time enclaves cf this genus exist in various parts of north- 

 ern New Zealand, so that inferences as to a former colder climate 

 baised on its distribution as a fossil must be made with care. 



