New Zealand Institute, 581 
rendered probable that we have in the New Zealand area, developments of 
Lower Mesozoic strata, representing gaps in the record elsewhere. 
A further examination of the Mount Potts Spirifer beds, during the past 
year, has afforded a large number of fossils and proved the existence of 
three marked horizons in that locality,—the Upper Plant beds; the Spirifer 
beds (although no true Spirifer is present) corresponding to the Lower 
Triassic of the Hokanui section ; and at the base, beds containing Glossop- 
teris, which is a characteristic fossil of the New South Wales Coal Fields. 
A thickness of 2,000 feet separates the Glossopteris from the Spirifer 
beds. From the bone beds associated with the latter, a good series of the 
Saurian bones was also collected, some of the vertebral centra having 
enormous proportions, being 18 inches in diameter, and 33 inches in length. 
Besides vertebrs, rib and limb bones were also obtained, and what appear 
to have been dermal plates; but the large blocks in which these interesting 
remains are embedded are not yet worked out sufficiently. 
A further discovery of great interest, is the determination by Mr. McKay 
of the age of the Maitai calcareous slates near Nelson. These underlie 
unconformably the whole of the beds that are developed in the Hokanui 
section, and contain the true Spirifer bisulcatus and Productus punctatus of 
the Middle Coal-measures of New South Wales. 
The discovery of Graptolites in the strata of the Collingwood district 
during the past year, is also an important advance in New Zealand paleon- 
tology. 
In Upper Mesozoic formations, the most interesting novelty is the 
discovery by Mr. Cox of an extension of the West Coast Coal-measures 
towards the limit of Te Anau lake, while the heavy bedded grits and 
conglomerates enter into the structure of lofty mountain ranges. 
The additions to the tertiary fossils have chiefly been from the East 
Coast of Wellington, while the evidence of the relative position of the 
Greensands and Chalk marls to the Miocene strata of the Taipos and the 
Pliocene Tertiaries of the Wairarapa, have received support by ample 
collections. 
The New Zealand Fossils now accumulated in the course of the 
Geological Survey, represent collections from 450 different localities, and 
comprise about 6,200 trays, which have been thoroughly classified, and 
1,200 specific types withdrawn into a separate collection for publication. A 
large number of types have been figured and their publication will be 
proceeded with as rapidly as the other work of the Department will permit. 
Publications.—The volume of Geological Reports for the past year, is 
now in the press and will contain the progress reports of the Survey, 
and in addition descriptions and figures of the most imporsi of the 
Lower Mesozoic fossils, 
