W. Travers. — Supposed Pleistocene Glaciation of Few Zealand. 435 



which might lead to the assumption that the latter agreed, in the main, with 

 the glaciation theory already discussed in this paper, it is clear that the 

 language of the letter just cited does not even countenance Dr. Haast's 

 extravagant propositions. But whilst, as already stated, I fully admit a 

 former extension of the glacier system of the South Island mountains, I am 

 unable, partly for the reasons already urged and partly for those to which 

 I am about to refer, to accept the views set forth in Dr. Hector's letter as 

 sufficient to account for it. 



In an earlier part of this paper I pointed out that the principal winds 

 which impinge upon the coast of New Zealand are the well-known westerly 

 winds which prevail between the thirtieth and sixtieth parallels of south 

 latitude. Satisfactory reasons are given by physical geographers why these 

 winds should be drier than the corresponding winds of the northern hemis- 

 phere, but I think I shall be able to show that, although the climatal 

 condition of the western coast of New Zealand is, in great measure, due to the 

 action of these winds, the winds themselves are in no degree dependent upon 

 the climatal condition of Australia for that in which they arrive on our 

 coasts. 



It must be remembered that when these winds become surface currents 

 they are cool winds, the warmth they acquire, and which enables them to pick 

 up moisture, being due partly to condensation and partly to friction, while 

 they become charged with moisture during their passage over the waters by 

 which Australia is separated from New Zealand. In the next place it must 

 be borne in mind, that the distance between these islands and the eastern 

 coast of Australia is not less than 1200 miles ; and, lastly, that the whole of 

 the heat producing area of Australia, if I may use such an expression, lies to 

 the north of the thirtieth parallel, and therefore within the south-east trade 

 region. Moreover, all physical geographers class the climate of that part of 

 Australia which lies to the south of the thirtieth parallel as amongst the 

 temperate climates of the globe. 



So far, then, from our north-west winds coming to us in a heated condition, in 

 consequence of having passed over Australia, the winds which pass over that part 

 of it which can in any degree be treated as lying to the north-west of us, blow 

 towards a directly opposite quarter. Indeed, it is in great measure owing to 

 this that the island of Timor, the eastern end of Java, and the southern 

 peninsula of Celebes present the parched appearance particularly mentioned by 

 Mr. Wallace in his work on the Malay Archipelago j whilst Mr. Maury and 

 other writers on physical geography explain, that the chief reason why 

 Australia itself is so dry a country is that its eastern coast line is stretched 

 out in the direction of the south-east trade wind, which therefore only fringes 

 its shores with moisture. Dr. Hector appears, when considering the source of 



