408 Transactions. — Geology. 



extensive flats, cut up by streams. Nearly everywhere in the Bay of Plenty 

 it is covered more or less with pumice, and is about 100 feet above the pre- 

 sent sea-level. From a little east of Opotiki to the east Cape the coast is 

 formed by the northern end of the main range of the island, or, I may say, 

 by the continuation of the Southern Alps. They average in height near the 

 coast from 1,500 to 3,000 feet, culminating in the interior in Mount Hiku- 

 rangi, 5,606 feet high, the highest peak in this province. These ranges 

 appear from the sea to end abruptly at the water's edge. Upon approaching 

 the coast, however, a long level line of low cliffs is seen, from the top of 

 which the land slopes gradually but slowly upwards to the base of the moun- 

 tains, the slope being in general covered with native cultivations and villages, 

 and the cliffs fiinged with pohutu kawa trees. In the season when the 

 yellow maize is ripe these flats form a pleasing contrast in colour to the 

 sombre hue of the precipitous mountains rising behind them. This slope 

 forms part of the more ancient sea-bottom alluded to. It is very distinctly 

 seen in the steep cliffs a little to the north-west of Hick's Bay. Being out 

 of the route of the coastal steamers, this part of the Bay of Plenty is rarely 

 seen, and its beauties generally unknown, but the time will come when it 

 will be visited on that account, and for its delightful climate. 



As bearing on the question of elevation of this part of the coast, Dr. 

 Hector says in his " Notes on the Geology of White Island,"* " I may here 

 remark that I observed no signs of marine or beach drift within the crater 

 wall, such as must have existed if the island had been undergoing a process 

 of elevation. On the other hand, the evidence seemed to point to a steady 

 submergence of the volcanic cone." In reference to this, I would observe, 

 that the above extract, whilst setting forth a direct contrary opinion to that 

 I have expressed with respect to the contiguous main land, refers to an 

 active volcano, which might be more subject to alternations of level, within 

 shorter periods, than the main land, and it is by no means improbable that 

 submergence is going on there, whilst the shores of the Bay are rising. 



From the East Cape southwards to Gisborne, I am not aware whether 

 the same evidence of elevation is discernable, but I find Mr. A. M'Kay, of 

 the Geological Survey states,! " On reaching the coast at McDonald's wool- 

 shed (a few miles north of Gisborne), one cannot help remarking the beau- 

 tiful raised beach behind the present sand hills, as level and smooth as a 

 carriage way, with its seaward slope just as the sea left it. The beach at 

 the present high water has a very different appearance, the finer materials 

 having been acted on by the winds, which have made sand hills. Here and 

 there among these, and in the depression between them and the raised 



* " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," Vol. VI., p. 281. 

 f " Geological Keports," 1873-4, p. 120. 



