358 



From Marai Kowliai we reached Pipiriki the same evening, occupying 

 nine hours twenty minutes in the actual transit. As the river was in strong 

 fresh I do not think our rate of speed was less than seven miles an hour, 

 which would, therefore, give a distance between these places of sixty-five 

 miles. 



On the following day we reached the township of Whanganui, passing 

 through a district' which I have already described. 



The results of this journey may be stated as follows: — 



1. That from the flanks of Ruahine a broad sedimentary tertiary belt 

 extends throughout the Province of Wellington, in the direction of Taranaki, 

 bounded inland by the slates of Kaimanawa and the volcanic rocks of 

 Ruapehu. 



2. That coal measures show at three points, vrz., at and above Ongarue, 

 at the Ohura, and up the Tangarakau. 



3. That the presence of a base of slate rock is established to the west- 

 ward of the great volcanic group, viz., in the bed of the Waipare. 



The number of waterfalls passed on the banks of the Whanganui is re- 

 markable, and perhaps unique. Below Maria Kowhai I counted 108 which 

 we passed during one hour, and a corresponding number might be counted 

 for two days' journey down stream. Of course some of them are not per- 

 manent. 



ASCENT OF THE MANAWATU. 



Leaving Whanganui for the Manawatu, I examined the basin of the 

 Turakina for some miles up, but perceived nothing except the usual tertiary 

 rocks. 



Arrived at the Manawatu, I proceeded by land to Puketotara, a native 

 settlement near the junction of the Oroua with the main river. Here I 

 obtained a canoe, and after a tedious voyage against a flooded stream, reached 

 the junction of the Pohangina, which falls into the right bank of the Mana- 

 watu, a short distance below the gorge. 



The Manawatu country lies low compared with the districts previously 

 explored. There is, however, a blue clay which shows on the banks of the 

 river, and which becomes more exposed on approaching the ranges ; this 

 may perhaps represent the blue clay of the Rangitikei and Whanganui, con- 

 taining cucullwa, etc., but, as I was unable to find the characteristic fossils, I 

 am not prepared to decide this point. 



The blue clay is capped by gravel about twenty feet thick. 



At the camping place at the Pohangina I obtained venus and plioladomya 



Near the range, the tertiary strata dip to the westward at an angle of 20° 

 to 25°, whereas lower down they appear almost horizontal. 



Prom the camping place on the Pohangina we passed through Te Apiti 

 (the gorge). The river has here cut its way through the usual vei'tical slate 

 and sandstone rocks of the main range. It is a remarkable geographical 

 feature, to find a large river rising on the eastern side of the main range of the 

 island, and breaking its way through, to fall into the sea on the western side. 



Passing through the gorge to the Twenty-mile Bush, we emerged upon a 

 level forest country, where I immediately found tertiaries and fossils similar to 

 those I had left on the lower side. 



After proceeding for some miles further through banks of gravel, I decided 

 to retrace our steps. In our descent the time occupied in traversing the gorge 

 occupied just one hour. Its length, including windings, cannot therefore 

 exceed six or seven miles. 



The Tarai-ua range from the sou th here meets the Ruahine, both narrowed 

 in width, and of comparatively low elevation. 



