44 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



protected by the sliingle whicli is sliifted from the left or northern to the 

 Ojoposite side, and by Yfhich, as it were, natural dams are thrown up. Thus 

 nature assists the work of man to confine the river in a properly defined 

 channel. 



There are very few other New Zealand rivers which for long distances 

 have banks built ujp of soft incoherent materials, but where they exist they 

 invariably conform to this law ; their left banks being always the highest 

 and most conspicuous, with a tendency of their waters to undermine these 

 left banks in whatever direction they may happen to flow. Of the large 

 Australian rivers, I know only the Murray, at Echuca (Victoria), and also 

 there the rule holds good, the left or southern bank being the highest and 

 best defined. 



I shall now proceed to offer you a description of the remarkable rock 

 paintings found on a rock-shelter in the Weka Pass ranges. Of the latter, 

 the spu'ited water-colour sketch of Mr. T. S. Cousins is a faithful repre- 

 sentation. I also have much pleasure in exhibiting to you the original 

 copies of the paintings made by Mr. Cousins on a scale of from six inches 

 to one inch to the foot, according to then' size, as well as a general view of 

 the whole on the uniform scale of one inch to the foot. About a year ago, 

 Mr. Alexander Lean informed me of the existence of these paintings, which 

 are situated on an educational reserve about one mile on the western side 

 of the Weka Pass road, not far from the last rise from which that pic- 

 turesq[ue road descends into the Waikari Flat. Shortly afterwards, in 

 company with Mr. H. M'Uraith, I visited them, and I need scarcely observe 

 that I was very much struck with their pecuhar character and their state 

 of partial preservation, fi-om winch their great age could be inferred. The 

 so-called] cave, which is, however, only a rock-shelter, is washed out of a 

 vertical wall of rock, lining a small valley for about 300 feet on its right 

 or southern side. It has a length of 65 feet, and is situated along 

 the western or upper portion of the rock. The valley itself is now perfectly 

 dry, but must, in post-phocene times, have had a not inconsiderable volume 

 of water flowing through it. The rock consists of the well-known calcareous 

 Weka Pass sandstone, and the roof of the shelter is formed by the natural 

 dip of the upper bed, having an inclination of about nine degrees to the 

 south. The rock-shelter is, when standing, near the foot of the rock below 

 it, which latter has, for about five to six feet, a backward slope about eight 

 feet high, rising to about twelve feet at the outer edge. 



The average depth is twelve feet, and, offermg from its aspect a splendid 

 shelter from southerly weather, it forms a most favourable locality for 

 camping. The two sections which I have the honour to submit to you 

 will make you acc[uainted with the physical features of the locality. The 



