296 Transactio'iis. — Geology. 



they now present. The elevating forces continued in action until the land was 

 very considerably higher than at present ; and, as the mountains were thrust 

 higher into those colder regions of the air where snow does not melt, glaciers 

 were formed in the deepest valleys, and, extending as the land rose higher, 

 they reached those limits where we now find the enormous masses of moraine 

 matter. 



The period of the greatest extension of the glaciers marks the time of 

 greatest elevation. After this subsidence commenced, and continued with 

 slight local interruptions up to the pi-esent time, and is, in my opinion, still 

 continuing. Moraine accu.mulalions occur on the east side of the Southern 

 Alps, chiefly at the lower extremities of all the large lakes, and form dams by 

 which the lakes are partly formed. These are, by no means, the only places ; 

 I mention them as being those where moraine accumulations occur in the 

 greatest mass, and are the most striking to an observer. 



On the west coast the moraine matter occupies far more ground, and attains 

 a much greater thickness, than is observable on the east side. From Bold Head 

 southwards, as far as Jackson Bay, numerous cliffs form the coast line, which 

 are the moraines of ancient glaciers. Lateral moraines run landwards, 

 narrowing as the hills are reached, whilst in many places the final meeting of 

 moraines has left low, irregular hills, entirely composed of loose masses of rock 

 now covered with dense vegetation. Receding from the coast line, and 

 examining the drift at the head of the main tributaries of the G-rey, Teremakau, 

 and Hokitika, the moraines are everywhere to be found, though very much 

 smaller in size. This is due to the fact of the mountains being very much 

 lower than they are to the southward. The Southern Alps culminate iu 

 Mount Cook, the range lessening in height to the south and north, besides 

 being much more narrow, thus allowing less room for snow-fields. The 

 moraine matter whenever found overlies the shingle drift, and in all the places 

 which I have examined it shows no signs of having been under water or 

 subject in any way to marine action, which could not possibly be the case if 

 the sea had stood at any considerably higher level than it does at j^resent, 

 since the glacial period. The loose moraine mounds forming the cliffs near 

 Abut Head and near bhe Poerua- would be quickly levelled if subjected to the 

 action of the sea. It is this undisturbed appearance which leads me to 

 conclude that there can have been no, general elevation of land since the 

 glacial period. There is a marked absence of i-aised beaches ; the few that do 

 exist on the West Coast were, I consider, formed during the period of elevation, 

 as they occur in several places at heights varying from 50 to 200 and 300 feet 

 above sea level. They only occur in sheltered spots, and have been subject 

 in many places to much denudation. 



Briefly stated, my hypothesis is this : That the glacial period commenced 



