350 



On the top of the Timii Taipo I obtained Turritella, Venus, Dentalium, 

 etc. Here also I found that the Matai kona Taipo bore N". 50° E., Buxton's 

 Taipo S. 20° to 30° W., and what I supposed to be Moore's Taipo S. 15° W. 

 It will thus be seen that the several peaks run nearly, but not quite, in a 

 straight line. 



Proceeding on the 22nd towards the coast, the road passes for a short 

 distance up the valley of the Tinui, where I found the blue clay. Crossing 

 that stream I ascended a ridge, where a fresh geological series is found, con- 

 sisting of white limestone and calcareous grits, and in their midst, a fine 

 grained green sandstone. 



Descending from the calcareous ridge to the valley of the Whakatake the 

 road follows that stream to the sea, and thence soivth to Castle Point. We 

 now find a series of thin and soft beds of sandstones and muclstones, cropping 

 out on the beach and in the valleys, sometimes nearly horizontal, and some- 

 times inclined at high angles. What relation these rocks have to the lime- 

 stones and calcareous grits, I am at a loss to determine, for I could not here find 

 a section which would throw light upon the subject. My impression is that they 

 overlie the calcareous rocks. 



In these sandstones and mudstones I found small seams of coal and 

 numerous impressions of vegetation, but none clear enough to be enabled to 

 judge of their age, but as the coal seams appear to be lignite, or brown coal, 

 we may put them down as of tertiary age. 



The reef at Castle Point is a peninsula, forming the shelter to the 

 anchorage. Both it and the rock called the Castle are composed of calcareous 

 sandstone, resting unconformably on the sandstones and mudstones just men- 

 tioned. In it I found the usual tertiary fossils. The reef, which is a ridge 

 perhaps fifty feet high, is penetrated by a cave, through which the tide passes, 

 and in which the roar of the wind and waves is very striking. Between the 

 reef and the Castle Rock, the sea has another passage through the rocks into 

 a basin. The Castle Rock is of similar formation to the reef. 



In the mudstones and sandstones on the shore I found plant impressions, 

 and in consequence proceeded up the bed of the stream behind Castle Point in 

 the hopes of falling in with some seams of coal. I went on as far as I could 

 penetrate, perhaps three miles, finding plenty of plant impressions, but no 

 actual coal seams. 



Mr. Guthrie informs me, that some years ago one of his shepherds, who 

 has since returned to Australia, brought hi a handkerchief full of coal (stating 

 that there was plenty more where he found it), which burnt well and seemed 

 of good quality, and which must have been found within three miles of the 

 Castle ; but unfortunately he had neglected to ask him where he got it. 



My impression is that the mudstones and sandstones of the coast are of 

 tertiary age, and therefoi'e if any workable coal seams are found in them, that 

 the mineral will be of inferior quality. 



On the beach here is some iron sand, whence derived it is difficult to say: 



Near the JSTakaua river I found soft sandstones containing plant impres- 

 sions and some coal seams about two inches thick. They were not continuous, 

 but thinned out in a yard or two. The rocks are the same as those at Castle 

 Point, and dip slightly to the westward. 



Ascending from the beach, in about a mile, I again came upon the calca- 

 reous grits and sandstones, both of which prevail in crossing the Trooper, the 

 ridge separating the Whareama from the sea. 



From this range the Puketoi is visible, its tertiary character being evident 

 even from this distance. 



Descending from the Trooper, I crossed the alluvium of the Whareama 

 valley, and ascended the hill next to Buxton's Taipo, composed of calcareous 



