324 Essays. 



From tlie eastern base of Euapeliu the E-iver "VYangaeliu rises as a stream 

 of water, said to be cbarged with, sulpburous acid as well as other mineral 

 compounds. All along the base of the volcanic chain similar springs may be 

 found, until on arriving at Tokanii, on the southern shores of Lake Taupo, 

 the delta of the Tongariro River is found honeycombed by hot springs, and 

 long lines of the same may be seen extending up the side of the hill over- 

 looking the smothered village of Terapa, where the venerable Te Heuheu 

 and many of his tribe met their death by the slipping of the side of the 

 mountain in the year 184<7. 



It would occupy too much space in an essay of this kind to enter into a 

 description of the grand system of hot springs, warm lakes, mud springs, 

 and other volcanic phenomena which are found in this country, extending 

 from Lake Taupo to the Bay of Plenty, and thence to White Island. For a 

 description of these the reader must be referred to Hochstetter and other 

 authors.* 



We may now proceed to consider the igneous rocks in the south-western 

 or trappean part of the island, as previously indicated. 



These rocks are only to be perceived at a few points, apparently forming 

 dykes in, or nearly in, the line of direction of the ranges. Thus amygda- 

 loidal trap may be perceived traversing palaeozoic rocks at Mukamuka, and 

 ampliibolite traversing calcareous rocks of a newer age at Waikekino, on the 

 east coast of the Wellington Province. 



Terbaces akd Raised Beaches. 



These form a characteristic feature of New Zealand geology. Pumice- 

 stone terraces are found fringing the volcanic chain at an elevation of about 

 2,000 feet, and also occupying large areas in the Province of Auckland at a 

 lower elevation. 



Terraces at the south part of the island are found, as previously stated, 

 at about 1,000 feet, 400, 250 to 300, and decided raised beaches at about 15, 

 and 4 to 9 feet. That these extend throughout the island at similar levels 

 is probable, but more information is wanted to establish this fact. 



Between these principal terraces are many smaller ones. Although 

 fossils are in general absent, it is likely that the terraces mark successive 

 rests of the land during its rise. To account for them as lake terraces 

 would require the supposed erection, or rather demolition, of a vast number 

 of barriers. 



At a height of about fifteen feet above the present sea level a very well- 

 defined sea beach is found all along the southern coast, worn into cavities 

 and bored by the shells of Plwladce. The latest raised beach is that which 



* Fischer's Translation, pp. 35 and 67. Thomson, Yol. I. 



