418 Transactions. — Geology. 



earthquake-action to account for the elevations and depressions, but I do 

 not see any evidence to warrant it. 



The amount of work which has been done by the Wairarapa rivers 

 seems utterly out of proportion to their present strength, and either an 

 enormous period of time must be allowed, or the amount of water must 

 have formerly been vastly greater. The old deposits are precisely similar 

 in character to those which are brought down at the present day. The 

 Euamahunga and its tributaries of the right bank, or from the Eimutaka, 

 run clear and chiefly bring down gravel. The Taueru, coming from tertiary 

 rocks, brings down softer materials, viz., — sand, clay, and mud; and, after 

 its junction with the Euamahunga, a difference in the deposits fi.-om those 

 in the upper valley may be observed, both in old and new deposits. We 

 may, therefore, conclude that the same rivers which are at work now, have 

 done the work formerly. Possibly by shutting up the Manawatu Gorge, 

 that river might find its way, by some low saddle, into the basin of the 

 Euamahunga ; or some change of level near the sources may have induced 

 it to cut a channel to the "West Coast. 



Even supposing we bring the Manawatu into the Wairarapa Valley, we 

 have apparently a small supply of force for the quantity of work done. 

 To cover a valley, say sixty miles long and ten broad, with gravels and 

 clays several hundred feet thick is an immense operation, which has been 

 perhaps only exceeded in recent times in New Zealand by the rivers of the 

 Canterbm-y Plain ; but these rivers are much larger, and run from much 

 higher mountains. There are other parts of the Wairarapa which may 

 probably answer as texts as well as Bidwill's front hills, but I have neither 

 time nor opportunity to take the levels, make the necessary observations, 

 and di-aw the conclusions, and must therefore leave it to others to work up 

 this interesting subject. 



Art. LXIX. — Reviarks on Volcanoes and Geysers of New Zealand. 

 By W. Collie. 

 [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 14.th June, 1879.] 

 In the pleasant, if sometimes arduous, pursuit of art-i3hotography, the 

 writer camped for weeks close to the main volcanoes and geysers of the 

 colony, enjoying excellent opportunities for search into the origin and 

 workmg of these marvellous and attractive exliibitions of nature's powers. 

 And viewing the existence, or it might be termed life, of the earth in its 

 present state for at least thousands of years, the question naturally arose 



