Crawford. — Geology of the North Island of New Zealand. 325 



marks the rise of the laud during tlie great earthquake of 1855. This 

 upheaval appears to have been greatest at the Mukamuka rocks — nearly 

 nine feet — and is supposed to have sloped of£ to nothing at the Manawatu ; 

 but, although the coast may not have risen at the latter point, there is no 

 evidence that the interior ranges were not lifted, and they certainly show 

 signs of having been thrust through, and having partially lifted the 

 tertiaries either at that time or at some former period, or to have oscillated 

 upwards on the eastern side with a pressure at the same time against the 

 west coast tertiaries. In the southern part of the island the chief gravel 

 formations extend from Palliser Bay up through the "Wairarapa and Porty- 

 Mile Bush towards Napier ; next on the west coast from the Waikanae 

 Eiver to the Eangitikei and Whanganui Eivers, capping the tertiary sand- 

 stones of the interior where undenuded. At the south-west corner of the 

 "Wairarapa Yalley the higher drift is found to rest unconformably upon an 

 older formation of gravel and lignite, 



GrOLD. 



Grold has been found at various points in the North Island, and it may 

 almost be said that all the palaeozoic rocks show its presence. It has only 

 been worked, however, to any extent at Coromandel.* Fi'om Coromandel 

 and from the palaeozoic rocks on the western side of the Frith of the Thames, 

 it is possible that gold may be found to extend up the Yalley of the Thames, 

 wherever the old clay slates may be exposed, but whether in the shape of 

 quartz reefs or of alluvial gold remains to be proved. 



Specimens of auriferous quartz have been procured from the Hangawera 

 range, which separates the Valley of the Thames and the Waikato, and this 

 indicates the line along which the precious metal may be sought for. The 

 Kaimanawa range has never been examined. Some specimens of galena and 

 other metallic ores, brought in by the natives to Hochstetter's party, are 

 said to have come from it ; and there is a strong probability of its rocks 

 having an auriferous character, lying, as it does, in the continuation of a 

 probable line of strike from the gold-bearing rocks of the Pelorus district. 



The great mass of tertiaries which covers the interior renders the search 

 for gold difficult and uncertain. A small quantity has been procured from 

 some of the gullies in the neighbourhood of Terawiti, near Wellington, and 

 it seems probable that the pyritous slates or veins of the ranges there may 

 be more or less auriferous. 



Earthquakes. 

 Any remarks on the geology of New Zealand would be deficient if they 

 * Total exported to 31st December, 1864, 9,584 oz., value £22,875.— Ed. 



