206 LIGNITE. [PART n. 



in small quantity, is in this case a true coal, and 

 proves, if really belonging to the tertiary epoch, 

 that the formation of coal has not been confined to 

 one period of the earth's existence. 



The northern head of Parenga-renga is a black 

 water-worn bluff, and here the conglomerate contains 

 some perfect fossils, especially of the genus Turri- 

 tella and Ostrea. The entrance into Parenga- 

 renga is easily distinguished by this bluff, as the 

 southern head is a spit of a dazzling snow-white 

 sand, which stretches towards Mount Carmel along 

 the coast, and extends for some miles inland. 



From Cape Maria van Diemen, along the west- 

 ern coast, a long line of sand-hills alternates with a 

 few cliffy promontories, consisting either of a hard 

 basaltic lava in irregular masses, or of a reddish 

 loamy earth with layers of lignite, three or four feet 

 in diameter, and overlaid by a thick stratum of loam. 

 The lignite is not peat, but real wood, more or less 

 carbonized. The pieces of wood, although much 

 broken and worn, are easily recognised as belonging 

 to species of trees still existing in the island, espe- 

 cially kauri (Dammara australis) and Pohutu-kaua 

 (Metrosideros tomentosa). It will be seen in the 

 sequel that formations of this description are very 

 common in New Zealand, both on the eastern arid 

 western coasts, and that they form, in fact, a lead- 

 ing feature in the geology of the island. 



I must not omit to mention here a small rocky 

 island, lying about twelve miles from Cape Maria 



