178 



The collection from this island contains twenty-five specimens, and, 

 besides volcanic rocks belonging to the Doleritic series, is highly interesting 

 from indicating the occurrence of sandstones of the same mineral character as 

 we find in ISTew Zealand among the Lower Mesozoic formation, and also true 

 chalk with large flints but without fossils unfortunately that can be seen by 

 the naked eye, though probably a microscopic examination of the chalk might 

 reveal some characteristic forms. 



There are also fragments of reef quartz with Phyllite or blue slate 

 attached, so that there must be a considerable variety in the geology of the 

 island, which is a true rocky island, and not a mere volcanic mass, built up by 

 submarine eruptions. 



3. — Antipodes Islands. 



On referring to the description of this group in the "Flora Antarctica,'' 

 and to the sailing directions published as late as 1868,* I find it stated that 

 landing is impracticable on these islands, so that Mr. Armstrong's party appear 

 to have accomplished the feat probably for the first time on record. 



His report states, that — 



"On Friday, 29th Feb., 1868, after having made more than one attempt to 

 leave our anchorage in Campbell Island, we succeeded in getting out of the 

 harbour, and with a steady breeze from the S.W., we soon ran the distance to 

 the Antipodes Islands, making the land before daybreak on the 2nd March, 

 and verifying their position as fixed by Capt. Norman. But for his observa- 

 tions we might possibly have ascertained their true position for ourselves, in a 

 manner far from pleasant, the chart placing them some fifty miles to the east- 

 ward, and ten miles to the north. When close to the island, we fired our gun, 

 and lowering a boat, I went ashore with an officer, effecting a landing very 

 easily under the lee (east side), although a considerable sea was running 

 outside. Firing the grass as we went, we made for a hill in the centre of the 

 island, which we climbed, and from its summit carefully scanned the whole 

 surface around. We saw nothing but the tussock waving in the wind, the 

 albatross sitting quietly on their nests, and a few parroquets flitting about. 

 We remained four hours here ; the men spread out in different directions, and 

 then returned to the boat with the conviction that no human beings (with the 

 exception of ourselves) were present on the island. Before leaving, we placed 

 a board on a high rock, securing it with stones, on which is carved, ' Brig 

 Amherst, in search of castaways, March, '68 ; by order of the Government of 

 Southland.' With it, two bottles, one containing some matches, a flint and 

 steel, fish-hooks, and a parcel of dressed flax ; the other, a letter, in which I 

 mentioned what had been done on the Auckland and Campbell Islands, etc. 



" The Antipodes Islands (two, a small one lying about half-a-mile off the 

 S.E. end of the main), are situated in lat. 49 deg. 42 min. S., long. 178 deg. 

 43 min. E., the coast line bold and rugged, the cliffs having a weather-beaten 

 bleached appearance. The main island is about three miles from east to west, 

 and two and a-half miles from north to south. Greatest elevation, 700 feet, the 

 hills dotted with high tussock (pa-ti-ti), and patches of M'Quarrie cabbage and 

 cotton plant. The soil is peaty, but drier and firmer than that of Campbell 

 Island ; of scrub, there is none worthy of the name, scarcely enough to make 

 a good fire with. The albatross here is the ' lowland,' and lays two eggs. 

 To walk across country required a little circumspection, progress being made 

 by hopping from tussock to tussock, a false step causing the unwary one to 

 subside up to his chin amongst the grass and piripiri. It reminded me forcibly 

 of crossing swamps in our own province, on top of the Maori-heads. The 



"Description of the Outlying Islands, South and East of New Zealand," p. 16: 

 printed for the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, 1868. 



