Haast. — Address. 37 



be fifty feet or it may be five liimclred. The nature and condition of this 

 old river-bed indicates that a strong ciu'rent and clear water prevailed. 

 When the country sank it must have continued until the sea flowed over 

 the present Thames and Waikato Valleys, and since which time it has 

 receded to its present coast by the re-elevation of the country. 



At one time, too, the waters of the middle Waikato rose above the level 

 of the so-called delta. Then were deposited these vast beds of pumice, 

 gravel and sand, bearing e^idence of subsequent disturbing upheaval. The 

 present argillaceous ranges were then so many islands, the tops of sub- 

 merged mountains or hills. In a ravine which, a few years ago, the waters 

 of a shallow swamp in Ngaruawahia worked out of the pumice of that town- 

 ship, are seen the stumps of trees, fifteen feet below the present surface, 

 standing on the rich soil in which they grew. Next we trace a level of the 

 river intermediate between that lacustrine era and the present, when the 

 flats of the delta were left dry, and a new channel, yet clearly traceable, 

 carried the waters for a time, and then were formed most jjrobably the 

 alluvial clay flats of Taupiri Gorge. The current was then too rapid for the 

 deposit of pumice sand, for we only find it in isolated pockets as if 

 deposited by eddies. In the wide- spreading valley below, however, the 

 hght and all but floating sand was laid over the whole low country, 

 covering the " sunken forest," and leaving it much as we find it. Another 

 shght rise in the country, and the present aspect of aft'au's was presented — 

 the river has cut lower through the sands, leaving the swamps of the delta 

 far above its level, and again exposing to our view the " forest." 



We have thus attempted to sketch a very shadowy outline of some very 

 momentous changes which have occurred in this part of our island. The 

 details will yet. we hope, be filled in by more able hands, guided by scientific 

 geological knowledge and research. 



Art. IV. — Address. By Professor Julius von Haast, Ph.D., F.E.S., 



President of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. 



Plate I. 



[Read before the Philosophical-Institute of Canterbury, 5th April, 1877.] 



It has hitherto been the custom that join- newly-elected president, when 



he takes office, should deliver an address to you, in which either a resume 



of scientific progress during the year is offered to you, or some subject of 



local bearing is treated more fuUy. In taldng the presidential chair, I shall 



