146 Geological Society :— — 
no definite crystalline form, and they have their longest axes, which 
correspond for the most part with the vertical axes of hornblende 
erystals, lying parallel to each other in the plane of schistosity. In 
fact the different grains show a striking amount of uniformity in 
their arrangement in the mass of the rock, the corresponding axes 
of elasticity lying, as a rule, approximately parallel to each other. 
The titaniferous magnetic ore is never present as skeleton rhombo- 
hedra, but is drawn out into long strips in the plane of schistosity, 
and frequently more or less surrounded by granules of sphene. 
Apatite occurs in broken prisms. Turbid grains of felspar are fre- 
quently, but not always, present. 
The author argued that the schist has been produced by meta- 
morphic action subsequent to the consolidation of the original rock. 
This metamorphic action has sometimes resulted only in the mole- 
cular rearrangement of the different constituents, but where the 
unequal distribution of stress has given rise to a kind of plastic 
movement in the mass a typical crystalline schist has been produced. 
The distribution of foliation in the dyke is not in accordance with 
any simple law. Sometimes it is parallel to the sides and some- 
times it runs across the dyke. In the latter case it agrees, as far 
as strike is concerned, with the prevalent direction of the gneissic 
bands in the district. In many places and for considerable dis- 
tances no trace of foliation can be detected. 
In conclusion the author pointed out that the metamorphism of 
basic igneous rocks into hornblende-schist had been discussed by 
many previous writers. He also acknowledged his great indebted- 
ness to Prof. Lapworth. 
2. ‘Sketch of the Geology of New Zealand.” By Captain F. W. 
Hutton, F.G.S., Professor of Biology in the Canterbury College, 
University of New Zealand. 
The paper commenced with some general remarks on the impor- 
tance and variety of the geology of New Zealand, and on the pro- 
eress made in the investigation of the islands. The author then 
proceeded to the question of the classification of the sedimentary 
strata, which he arranges in the following local systems :— 
Systems. Probable age. 
Recent. Recent. 
Pleistocene. Pleistocene. 
Wanganti. Newer and Older Pliocene. 
Pareora. Miocene. 
Damari. Oligocene. 
Waipara. Upper Cretaceous. 
Hokanti. Lower Jurassic and Triassic. 
Maitai. Carboniferous. 
Takaka. Silurian and Ordovician. 
Manapouri. Archean. 
Most of these systems are divided into several local series. 
