Crawrorpv.— Geology of the North Island of New Zealand. 325 
marks the rise of the land during the great earthquake of 1855. This 
upheaval appears to have been greatest at the Mukamuka rocks—nearly 
nine feet—and is supposed to have sloped off to nothing at the Manawatu ; 
but, although the coast may not have risen at the latter point, there is no 
evidence that the interior ranges were not lifted, and they certainly show 
signs of having been thrust through, and having partially lifted the 
tertiaries either at that time or at some former period, or to have oscillated 
upwards on the eastern side with a pressure at the same time against the 
west coast tertiaries. In the southern part of the island the chief gravel 
formations extend from Palliser Bay up through the Wairarapa and Forty- 
Mile Bush towards Napier; next on the west coast from the Waikanae 
River to the Rangitikei and Whanganui Rivers, capping the tertiary sand- 
stones of the interior where undenuded. At the south-west corner of the 
Wairarapa Valley the higher drift is found to rest unconformably upon an 
older formation of gravel and lignite. 
Gor». 
Gold has been found at various points in the North Island, and it may 
almost be said that all the paleozoic rocks show its presence. It has only 
been worked, however, to any extent at Coromandel* From Coromandel 
and from the palzozoie rocks on the western side of the Frith of the Thames, 
it is possible that gold may be found to extend up the Valley of the Thames, 
wherever the old clay slates may be exposed, but whether in the shape of 
quartz reefs or of alluvial gold remains to be proved. 
Specimens of auriferous quartz have been procured from the Hangawera 
range, which separates the Valley of the Thames and the Waikato, and this 
indicates the line along which the precious metal may be sought for. The 
Kaimanawa range has never been examined. Some specimens of galena and 
other metallic ores, brought in by the natives to Hochstetter's party, are 
said to have come from it; and there is a strong probability of its rocks 
having an auriferous character, lying, as it does, in the continuation of a 
probable line of strike from the gold-bearing rocks of the Pelorus district. 
The great mass of tertiaries which covers the interior renders the search 
for gold difficult and uncertain. A small quantity has been procured from 
some of the gullies in the neighbourhood of Terawiti, near Wellington, and 
it seems probable that the pyrifous slates or veins of the ranges there may 
be more or less auriferous. 
EARTHQUAKES. 
Any remarks on the geology of New Zealand would be defieient if they . 
* Total exported to 31st December, 1864, 9,584 oz., value £22,875.—Eb. 
