Park.—Contact between Ngaparan Beds and Underlying Bed-rock. 89 
In 1906 Dr. J. M. Bell called certain uplands in Westland a “ fossil 
peneplain,?" and in 1916 Professor C. A. Cotton described the even, 
gentle slopes descending from the uplands to the west towards the middle 
Kakanui Valley, and forming a conspicuous land-feature from almost all 
by the ordinary processes of denudation as a "stripped peneplain." This, 
I think, is a misuse of a common English word in a way that probably 
conceals the real meaning of the users, and, moreover, seems to convey the 
subtle and erroneous inference that the surface of the peneplain as it now 
exists is the same surface as that on which the covering sediments were 
a rate as to expose the orginal surface of the peneplain everywhere at 
approximately the same date, and if, after this event had come about, 
denudation were held in abeyance, then we should behold what was in 
deed and in fact a true “ fossil peneplain.” 
The first condition is not impossible. If the covering beds consisted 
of weak unconsolidated sediments of fairly uniform character the rate of 
protecting covering of ice. Such an ice-sheet. may have existed on the 
uplands during the Pleistocene, but clearly on the disappearance of the ice 
denudation would once more begin its activities. 
The frequent tors of rock on the Barewood peneplain and high stacks 
on the table-topped summit of the Rock and Pillar and Old Man ranges 
are an evidence of the progress of denudation since the Otago peneplain 
was uncovered. Moreover, they prove that the present surface of the 
relies of the ancient peneplain in Central Otago is not the original pene- 
plained surface. For that reason I think that the term “ fossil peneplain ” 
or “ fossil plain," though perhaps not so inaccurate as the term “ strippe 
peneplain," nevertheless connotes a condition that from the nature of 
things must be almost impossible of attainment. 
The character of the rock-floor on which the Oamaruian rests possesses 
a far-reaching significance. When many observations are placed on record 
as to the contour of the floor on which the basement beds of the Oamaruian 
rest we shall be able to speculate on the configuration of the maritime 
lands of older Cainozoic times with a confidence we do not now possess. 
