CAPT. F. W. HITTTON ON THE GEOLOGY OP NEW ZEALAND. 



191 



23. Sketch of the Geology of New Zealand. By Captain F. W. 

 HuTTON, P.G.S., Professor of Biology in the Canterbury College, 

 University of New Zealand. (Eead January 14, 1885.) 



Contents. 



Introduction. 

 Grouping of the Bocks. 

 General Geological Structure. 



South Island. 



North Island. 



Eruptive Rocks. 



Economic Rocks and Coal. 

 Descriptive Geology. 



Manapouri System. 



T4kaka System. 



Maitai System. 



Hokanui System. 



Waipara System. 



Oamaru System. 



Pareora System. 



Wanganiii System. 



Pleistocene Period. 

 Raised Beaches. 



Peat-mosses. 



Diluvial Epoch. 

 Recent Period. 



^olian Deposits. 



Distribution of Dinornis. 

 Eruptive Bocks. 

 Manapouri System. 

 Takaka System. 

 Maitai System. 

 Hokamii System. 

 Waipara System. 

 Oamaru System. 

 Pareora System. 

 Wanganiii System. 

 Distribution of Volcanic Rocks 



in North Island. 

 Hot Springs. 

 Minerals. 



Inteoduction. 



Size for size there are few places in the world where such a variety 

 of geological phenomena are gathered together as in New Zealand. 

 Sedimentary rocks are represented of nearly all ages, from Archaean 

 upwards, and all hut the lowest have yielded fossils, in some places 

 abundantly. We have metamorphic and eruptive rocks of nearly 

 all kinds. We have volcanic cones of all sizes, from low hills to 

 Euapehu *, more than 9000 feet in height ; and we have them in 

 all stages of degradation, from mere stumps to fresh scoria-cones, 

 and one, Tongariro* , still active. We have also solfataras and mud 

 volcanoes, fumaroles, geysers, and hot springs in abundance. We 

 have a mountain range with an alpine structure, and with glaciers 

 and glacier lakes almost equalling those of Europe. But one thing 

 is missing, — there are no Eed Sandstones, either with or without salt 

 and gypsum, and no magnesian limestones. New Zealand appears 

 never to have been the site of great lacustrine deposits. In ad- 

 dition to all these advantages our geographical position is one 

 of great interest. It is in New Zealand alone that we have any 

 record of the ancient floras and faunas that overspread the South 

 Pacific ; and it is here we must look for evidence of the changes 

 that have taken place in the physical geography and climate of this 

 enormous area. Situated at the antipodes of Europe, any change 

 of climate, brought about by shifting in position of the earth's axis, 



* In all names of Maori origin pronounce the vowels as in Italian. 



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