240 Geology of 



CHAPITER II. 



GrENEEAL GEOLOGICAL SlEECTEBE. 



Beeoee examining the general geological structure of the two 

 provinces under consideration, it will be necessary to devote a few 

 moments to New Zealand considered as a whole, as it would he very 

 difficult, without such a short review, to understand the conformation of 

 this portion of the South Island alone. It has already been pointed 

 out by Ferdinand von Hochstetter in the geological portion of the 

 magnificent Novarawork — (Geological portion, first part, first division, 

 Geology of New Zealand) — that these Islands belong geologically 

 together, and are portions of one and the same system which, with a 

 south-west and north-east direction, forms a well-marked line of 

 elevation in the Pacific Ocean. This longitudinal course is crossed 

 by a second one nearly at right angles, that is to say, running in a 

 nearly south-east and north-west direction. On this line, the northern 

 continuation of the Northern Island is situated; also Cook's and 

 Poveaux Straits strike in the same direction, conforming to a line 

 N. 52 c "W., which, according to Dana, * can be considered the axis of 

 great depression in the Pacific Ocean. 



Not having at this moment, access to Dana's valuable work, I can do 

 no better than translate from the above-mentioned publication of my 

 friend, von Hochstetter, the passage having reference to it, and hig 

 conclusions based thereon, with which, moreover, I fully agree : — 



* United States Exploring Expedition, Vol. X., p. 3&4, 385. 



