ARTICLE XXX.-PHYSIOGMPHY AND GEOLOCxY OF THE AUCKLAND, 

 BOUNTY. AND ANTIPODES ISLANDS. 



By Robert Speight, M.A., B.Sc, F.G.S., Lecturer on Greology, Canterbury Colleoo, and Assistant 

 Curator, Canterbury Museum ; assisted by A. M. Finlayson, M.Sc, Exhibition 1851 Science 

 Scholar, New Zealand University. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The importance of the geology of the southern islands of New Zealand is enhanced 

 by the fact that biologists have suggested that the existence of a land connection 

 between New Zealand and a subantarctic continent would explain certain anomalies 

 in the distribution of plants and animals. When viewed in that light their geology 

 becomes most interesting. Separated now by wide stretches of sea from the nearest 

 large land-masses, some of them, such as the Snares and Bounty Islands, have 

 apparently all the characteristics of oceanic islands. They are mere dots on the 

 ocean. The Auckland Islands are larger, but they, too, are small when compared with 

 other islands which are truly oceanic. However, evidence will be put forward which 

 will show that they have formed part of a much larger land-mass, which in all pro- 

 bability was of such extent that the land connection asked by zoologists existed 

 either in a continuous form or in a series of slightly separated islands. The evidence 

 as to the date of this extension is not so satisfactory. The following facts proving 

 the existence of a large continental area in the region will be referred to in the report, 

 and after due consideration they will probably be found convincing that such actually 

 existed ; but there is no decided evidence from the Auckland Islands to show that 

 the extension was a recent one. There are facts which suggest it, and nothing has 

 been found to contradict it. 



The following conclusions have been arrived at as a result of the work of the 

 Auckland Island members of the geological party of the expedition : — 



1. There is evidence from physiographical considerations that the land in recent 

 times was higher, as only on those conditions could the valleys of the eastern water- 

 shed have been eroded. 



2. The islands were undoubtedly subjected to a moderately severe glaciation. 

 This may be explained by an elevation of the land ; but it is an unsatisfactory ex- 

 planation, and one that must be accepted with great reserve, seeing that glaciation 

 was fairly general in south temperate regions in Pleistocene times, and that it was 

 in all probability due toj^some general cause about which we cannot speak with 

 certainty at the present. 



3. Large masses of plutonic rocks occur at the Auckland Islands, the Snares, 

 the Bounty Islands, and at Campbell Island. 



46— S. 



