296 T'ransactions.— Geology. 
they now present. The elevating forces continued in action until the land. was 
very considerably higher than at present ; and, as the mountains were thrust 
higher into those colder regions of the air where snow does not melt, glaciers 
were formed in the deepest valleys, and, extending as the land rose higher, 
they reached those limits where we now find the enormous masses of moraine 
matter, 
The period of the greatest extension of the glaciers marks the time of 
greatest elevation. After this subsidence commenced, and continued with 
slight local interruptions up to the present time, and is, in my opinion, still 
continuing. Moraine accumulations occur on the east side of the Southern 
Alps, chiefly at the lower extremities of all the large lakes, and form dams by 
which the lakes are partly formed. These are, by no means, the only places ; 
I mention them as being those where moraine accumulations occur in the 
greatest mass, and are the most striking to an observer. 
On the west coast the moraine matter occupies far more ground, and attains 
a much greater thickness, than is observable on the east side. From Bold Head 
southwards, as far as Jackson Bay, numerous cliffs form the éoast line, which 
are the moraines of ancient glaciers. Lateral moraines run landwards, 
narrowing as the hills are reached, whilst in many places the final meeting of 
moraines has left low, irregular hills, entirely composed of loose masses of rock 
now covered with dense vegetation. Receding from the coast line, and 
examining the drift at the head of the main tributaries of the Grey, Teremakau, 
and Hokitika, the moraines are everywhere to be found, though very much 
smaller in size. This is due to the fact of the mountains being very much 
lower than they are to the southward. The Southern Alps culminate in 
Mount Cook, the range lessening in height to the south and north, besides 
being much more narrow, thus allowing less room for snow-fields. The 
moraine matter whenever found overlies the shingle drift, and in all the places 
which I have examined it shows no signs of having been under water or 
subject in any way to marine action, which could not possibly be the case if 
the sea had stood at any considerably higher level than it does at present, 
since the glacial period. The loose moraine mounds forming the cliffs near 
Abut Head and near the Poerua would be quickly levelled if subjected to the 
action of the sea. It is this undisturbed appearance which leads me to 
conclude that there can have been no general elevation of land since the 
glacial period. There is a marked absence of raised beaches ; the few that do 
exist on the West Coast were, I consider, formed during the period of elevation, 
as they occur in several places at heights varying from 50 to 200 and 300 feet 
above sea level. They only occur in sheltered spots, and have been subject 
in many places to much denudation. 
Briefly stated, my hypothesis is this: That the glacial period commenced 
