312 Transaotio')is . — Geology. 



limits of constant frozen ground — that is, tlie region of glaciers and icebergs ; 

 and, in the first place, I use, as my stepping-stone, the remains of moraines 

 that are to be, at this day, seen at the lower extremes of our interior lakes, 

 three of which I have personally examined, viz., at Pukaki, Ohau, and Waka- 

 tipu. Here a geological lesson may be read as plain as the ABC, that the 

 extremities of the glaciers — now only to be discovered in the far distance, high 

 up in the recesses of Mount Cook, Mount Stokes, and Earnslaw — once reached 

 to these lower levels, at which time they pushed forward rocks, stones, and 

 masses of ice, in the manner that alpine glaciei-s do at the present day. The 

 action may be termed that of mountain glaciers. The remains of the moraines 

 are the proof of that action, and so of the existence of the glacier itself ; but 

 we have to do with glaciers of another description, preceding these, and far 

 exceeding them in extent and influence. These I will term, for the sake of 

 distinction, as terrene glaciers. The proof of the existence of these, with their 

 accompanying icebergs, is to be found in the boulder deposits so numerous in 

 many parts of this Province ; and of those nearest at hand I may mention the 

 deposits on the Kaikorai and Caversham ranges. Here the sui-face of the 

 ground is bestrewed with them, and the cuttings of the road and railway works 

 exhibit them imbedded in marl and clay, overlying the sandstone. At the 

 various eminences of the ranges, they have served, by their having been 

 deposited in clusters, to preserve the ground from erosion — even when that 

 ground consisted of easily transported sand beds — and their original position is 

 easily to be indicated on the spurs of the Waikari Hills, from whence portions 

 of terrene glaciers stretched down the Kaikorai Valley to the ocean, beai'ing 

 with them stones and material, and casting them off at intervals, as parts of 

 the congealed masses broke off and fell into what, at that time, was the bed of 

 the sea. But the most remarkable and extensive boulder deposit that I have 

 seen exists at the gorge of the Kawarau and plains of Cromwell, strewed 

 between the gorge and the town of that name in greater numbers as the gorge 

 is approached, and placed in such a manner as small icebergs floating out of 

 the valley would not ftiil to do, being parallel with the water's motion, and 

 tending to the eddies on each side of the channel. Some of these boulders are 

 larger than shepherds' huts, and being laid on the surface of the gravelly plain, 

 far from their original locations, are a subject of wonder to the simple and 

 unlearned. Boulders in the same manner appear below the Clyde Gorge, but 

 not to so great an extent, yet in principle bearing out the same glacial action 

 or floatage proceeding therefrom by icebergs. 



Other pi'oofs of terrene glaciers and icebergs are to be found in this district, 

 in numerous boulders with striae, or ice-scores, on them. I first had the 

 pleasure of pointing out these to my friend, Mr. L. O. Beal, who read a paper 

 to this society on a kindred subject. (See Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. III., p. 270.) 



