562 Transactions,—Geology. 
are continued to the N.N.E. to the sea in the vicinity of the East Cape, 
that Cape, however, being of newer formation, either upper mesozoic or 
cretaceo-tertiary. The Kaimanawa range is formed of the same palsmozoie 
rocks, which also crop out in many other parts of Auckland. It is sup- 
posed by Dr. Hector that triassic rocks are mixed with these palxozoic 
rocks, but for the purposes of the present argument it may be as well to 
consider them as being all paleozoic. 
In the South Island these rocks attain equal or greater development, 
forming the eastern part of the great mountain chain of that island. Of 
these rocks the Kaikouras are formed, also the mountains skirting the 
Canterbury Plain, and parts of the eastern mountains of Otago. 
I have searched diligently for fossils in these rocks in the mountains 
of Wellington, and have found nothing except some impressions of plants, 
chiefly in two places, viz., near Pauatahanui, and at Oriental Bay, 
within the limits of the City of Wellington. These impressions were too 
indistinct to make anything of. I may say that it could hardly be decided 
whether they were of terrestrial or marine origin. One point, however, I 
may mention. I took their line of strike from Pauatahanui, and went on 
this bearing to Oriental Bay, some twelve miles distant, and there found 
them at once. | 
I have also found some vermiform casts of indistinct character. 
I believe that nothing of more decided character has been found in 
these rocks in Canterbury or other parts. 
Now in the older paleozoic rocks of Nelson and Otago, distinctive fossils 
have been found of a similar character to the graptolites and other fossils 
of the lower palxozoic rocks of Europe, and therefore it seems curious why 
the upper palwozoic rocks should be wanting in the remains of ancient life. 
The rocks above this series are full of fossils. 
The first idea which no doubt may be brought forward is, that from the 
mineral character of these rocks the fossils whieh they contained have been 
removed by chemical destruction or otherwise; but when we consider the 
immense area which they occupy, it seems unaccountable that the destruc- 
tion should have extended over so large a space. 
I think I can give a more satisfactory reason, viz., in the mode of 
deposition of the rocks themselves. 
If we examine the older paleozoic rocks of New Zealand we find them 
to have been deposited in regular parallel strata of great thickness. The 
mesozoie and tertiary strata are also deposited with the usual regularity ; 
but, when we come to examine the upper paleozoic rocks, we find the rule 
to be extreme irregularity. Sandstones and slates run in and out of each 
other, thin out, enlarge, and mix together in a remarkable way. There is 
