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As it is not intended to give a systematic account of the geology, but 

 rather a detailed narrative of the facts obtained by actual survey, I am 

 compelled to adhere to the natural order in which the observations were made 

 in the course of numerous journeys. 



I will therefore divide my journeys into three sections. 



1st. To embrace the main range, and its immediate vicinity. 



2nd. The Wairarapa and East Coast. 



3rd. The Whanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawatu rivers, with Taupo 

 inclusive. 



1. Main Range. 



By, the term main range is to be understood, all the mountainous part of 

 the province which is bounded by the Wairarapa and the Forty-mile Bush on 

 the east, by the flat country of the basins of the Waikanae, the Otaki, the 

 Manawatu, and the Rangitikei on the west, and by the sea on the south and 

 south-west. This district includes the ranges of Rimutaka, Tararua and 

 Ruahine, with all their spurs and offshoots. 



My explorations in the main range were performed in a series of traverses, 

 which it is proposed to describe separately. The first on the list will be : — 



JOURNEY FROM THE HUTT, BY THE AKATAREWA RIVER, TO WAIKANAE, AND 

 THENCE BY BELMONT HILL TO WELLINGTON. 



From the junction of the Mungaroa river, the Hufct takes a large bend to 

 the west. At the extremity of this bend a considerable stream, called the 

 Akatarewa, falls into its right bank from the westward. 



Having forded the Hutt, I proceeded up the course of the Akatarewa. 

 Two days journey of pretty constantly wading, brought us near the sources of 

 the river. On the third clay we crossed a dividing range about 2000 feet high, 

 and descended upon a branch of the Waikanae. On the fourth clay we reached 

 the village of Waikanae. 



The rocks traversed throughout the journey were of the usual character of 

 those round Wellington — slates and sandstones highly inclined. Some plant 

 impressions were found in the sandstones, similar to those at Borirua. A 

 handsome agate pebble was found in the Hutt river, which, considering also 

 certain igneous boulders which I found in the gorges of the Waiokine and the 

 Raamahunga, leads me to expect that igneous dykes may be found in the heart 

 of the ranges. 



The valley of the Akatarewa contains a considerable quantity of level 

 terrace land, but from the dense nature of the forest, it is difficult to estimate 

 the actual amount. 



It is probable that a line of road will eventually be formed by crossing 

 from the valley of the Akatarewa to that of the Otaki, and so connecting the 

 Hutt and the West Coast. 



On my return from Waikanae to Wellington, I took the track from 

 Baoatahanui to the Hutt, apparently passing over a line of strike of soft 

 sandstone and slate rocks, and finding plant beds. 



THE HUTT VALLEY, GORGES OF WAIOHINE AND RUAMAHUNGA, FORTY-MILE BUSH, 

 CROSSING OF TARARUA NEAR GORGE OF MANAWATU, AND ASCENT OF 

 TARARUA BY THE OTAKI VALLEY. 



In February, 1863, I organised a party to endeavour to find gold in the 

 main range. My plan was to examine the different river basins within the 

 ranges, and should gold even in small quantities be found in them, to bottom 

 the plains, or basins lying outside the ranges on both sides, 



