Neto Zealand Institute. 581 



rendered probable that we have m the New Zealaud area, developments of 

 Lower Mesozoic strata, representhig gaps in the record elsewhere. 



A further examhiation of the Mount Potts Spirifer beds, during the past 

 year, has afforded a large number of fossils and proved the existence of 

 three marked horizons in that locality, — the Upper Plant beds ; the Spiri/er 

 beds (although no true Spirifer is present) corresponding to the Lower 

 Triassic of the Hokanui section ; and at the base, beds containing Glossop- 

 teris, which is a characteristic fossil of the New South "Wales Coal Fields. 



A thickness of 2,000 feet sejDarates the Glossopteris from the Spirifer 

 beds. From the bone beds associated with the latter, a good series of the 

 Saurian bones was also collected, some of the vertebral centra having 

 enormous proportions, being 18 inches in diameter, and 3 J inches in length. 

 Besides vertebree, rib and limb bones were also obtained, and what appear 

 to have been dermal plates ; but the large blocks in which these interesting 

 remains are embedded are not yet worked out sufficiently. 



A further discovery of great interest, is the determination by Mr. McKay 

 of the age of the Maitai calcareous slates near Nelson. These underhe 

 unconformably the whole of the beds that are developed in the Hokanui 

 section, and contain the true Spirifer bisulcatus and Productus jyunctatus of 

 the Middle Coal-measures of New South Wales. 



The discovery of Graptolites in the strata of the CoUingwood district 

 during the past year, is also an important advance in New Zealand paleon- 

 tology. 



In Upper Mesozoic formations, the most interesting novelty is the 

 discovery by Mr. Cox of an extension of the West Coast Coal-measures 

 towards the limit of Te Anau lake, while the heavy bedded grits and 

 conglomerates enter into the structure of lofty mountain ranges. 



The additions to the tertiary fossils have chiefly been from the East 

 Coast of Wellington, while the evidence of the relative position of the 

 Greensands and Chalk marls to the Miocene strata of the Taipos and the 

 Pliocene Tertiaries of the Wairarapa, have received support by ample 

 collections. 



The New Zealand Fossils now accumulated in the course of the 

 Geological Survey, represent collections from 450 different localities, and 

 comprise about 6,200 trays, which have been thoroughly classified, and 

 1,200 specific types withdrawn into a separate collection for publication. A 

 large number of types have been figured and their publication will be 

 proceeded with as rapidly as the other work of the Department will permit. 

 Publications. — The volume of Geological Keports for the past year, is 

 now in the press and will contain the progress reports of the Survey, 

 and in addition descriptions and figures of the most important of the 

 Lower Mesozoic fossils. 



