On the Geology op the Province of Wellington.* 

 By J. C. Crawford, F.G.S, 



[Lecture delivered at the Colonial Museum, Wellington, October 2, 1 889. J 



The following notes were made during a geological survey of the Province of 

 "Wellington, undertaken for the Provincial Government, between 1861 and 

 1864. The original Reportst are now scarce, and I have been requested to 

 draw up the following abstract of them for re-publication as a preface to the 

 description of the district between Wanganui and Lake Taupo, which formed 

 the siibject of my lecture before the Institute. 



Since the original publication of my Reports, our knowledge of the geology 

 of the country has largely increased : Hochstetter's work has appeared, 

 the Government Geological Siirvey has been in progress, and the New 

 Zealand Institute has been established, and in its " Transactions and Pro- 

 ceedings " are numerous reports on the geology of the Colony. Of these new 

 sources of knowledge I cannot take advantage, without entering into discus- 

 sion, and thereby too much enlai'ging the limits of this paper ; I will therefore 

 confine myself to original observations. 



In the classification of the strata I adhere as much as possible to the views 

 adopted by Professor von Hochstetter. 



Tabular view of the Strata in the Wellington Province : 



Recent. 1. Travertin — found at Te Pura Pura, Hautotara, and other parts on 

 the eastern side of the Wairarapa valley. 



2. Raised beaches — extending round the coast. 



3. Gravels — Wairarapa plains, Otaki, Manawatu, Rangitikei, Whanganui, etc. 

 Tertiary. 4. Gravels of high levels. 



5. Sandstones and limestones — on east side at Hautotara, Maungaraki, and 



generally skirting the eastern side of the Wairarapa plain. On west side, 

 covering the whole of the great tertiary field. 



6. Blue clay — on east side, exposed at Wangaimoana, and very extensively 



found in the East Coast ranges. On west side, Whanganui and Rangi- 



tikei basin, and probably that of Manawatu. 

 Probable Mesozoic. 7. Limestones and sandstones of the East Coast. 

 Mesozoic and Palceozoic. 8. Slates and sandstones of Rimutaka and Tararua 



ranges, including all the mountainous country between the Wairarapa 



valley and the west coast at Porirua ; and at Cape Palliser, and Kai- 



manawa range. 

 Plutonic. 9. Hornblendic rock — found in the upper tributaries of the Pahaua, 



as boulders : found in sitit at Waikekino, not far from Flat Point. 

 Volcanic. 10. Rocks of Ruapehu and Tongariro, and boulders derived from 



them, pumice included. 



* For the localities mentioned, the reader is referred to the Map of the Province, 

 accompanying Mr. Stewart's paper on "the River Systems of Wellington." See page 198 

 of this volume. — Ed. 



*t* See Provincial Government Gazettes ; also, Geol. Map and Sections (Ward and 

 Reeves, 1864). 



