CEAWrORD. — Geology of Hie North Inland of New Zealand. 309 



markings, or seams of carbonaceous substances. Organisms are found at 

 Porirua and at Oriental Bay, near "Wellington, wbere tbey seem to indicate 

 a mesozoic age ; but they are in botb cases too obscure to found a tboory 

 upon, and ^\Q must await tlie discovery of more distinct specimeiis before 

 drawing decided conclusions. 



Thin seams of an impure graphite are found at a great variety of places 

 — on the Pitone Eoad near "Wellington, at the Mungaroa Hili, at various 

 points on the Rimutaka Mountains, in the mountain part of the valleys of 

 the "Waiohine, the Waingawa, and the Huamahunga, in the "Waikanae, the 

 Akatarewa, and particulaidy in the upper part of the Otaki valleys. 



The inclination of these old rocks is very great, from 45° to vertical (on 

 an average perhaps 70°). They must have been folded by great lateral 

 pressure ; and at various points on the south coast, particularly between 

 "Wellington Harbour and the "Wairarapa Valley, there are excellent examj)les 

 of contoi'ted strata. 



These vock.% are freely jointed, and consequently break readily into 

 angular fragments. They are therefore, in general, unfit for building 

 purposes. 



To the eastward of the main chain, a parallel range of palaeozoic rocks 

 rises from Cape Palliser to an elevation of about 3,000 feet above the sea ; 

 but at or about the latitude of the Pahaoa Eiver its palaeozoic rocks pass 

 beneath the tertiaries, with the exception of a few insignificant ridges, which 

 may be seen further to the northward. To all appearance no palfeozoic 

 rocks are found along the same line further north than the Kaiwhata Eiver, 

 on the eastern side of the "Wellington Province, nor in those parts of the 

 Provinces of Auckland and Hawke Bay which lie to the eastward of the 

 main palasozoie range. The continuation in the South Island of similar 

 rocks to those of the main range is said by Dr. Haast to lie between the 

 "Wairau and the Awatere. 



To the westward, the first great upward undulation of the palaeozoic 

 rocks is found in the Kaimauawa range — the " heart-eater." This range 

 commences its rise from beneath marine tertiaries and volcanic deposits to 

 the eastward, and about ten miles from the base of Euapehu, assumes an 

 elevation of 5,000 feet opposite Lake Taupo, and passes in a IsT.lN'.E. direction 

 towards the Bay of Plenty, under the subsequent names of Te "Whaiti or 

 Whakatane range. In the maps, Ruahine is generally made to curve to the 

 westward, to meet the Kaimanawa range. This is incorrect, and gives a false 

 view of the topography of the country. KaimanaAva is parallel to Euahine 

 or its successors, not continuous with them ; nor do they curve to the west- 

 ward towards it. 



Passing further to the eastward, the palaeozoic ranges are found at 



