266 Geology of 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Moott Toelesse Foematio>~. 



TTxdee this name I include all that vast assemblage of rocks, of great 

 thickness, which forms a number of huge folds, reaching in some 

 instances from the East Coast to within 20 miles of the West Coast, 

 and by which more than half of the Province of Canterbury is covered. 

 Although the attempt has been made, both by Captain Hutton and 

 Dr. Hector, to separate this formation in Canterbury into several 

 divisions belonging to different periods very distant in age from each 

 other, both basing their sub-divisions not only on the scant palag- 

 ontological evidence we possess, but also on lithological character and 

 stratigraphical position, a closer study of the sections has proved 

 convincingly that such divisions were based upon erroneous observa- 

 tions and deductions. The following formations are said by Captain 

 Hutton to be represented in Canterbury — namely, the Kaikoura, the 

 Maitai, and the Putataka formations.* First as to his Kaikoura 

 formation Being acquainted with the district from which the name 

 has been taken, I can state, judging from the lithological character 

 and sequence of the beds, that his Kaikoura is the same as my Blount 

 Torlesse formation, both mountain systems being in that respect 

 alike. Captain Hutton correctly states that all the higher ranges — 

 Mount Torlesse, the Thirteen-mile-bush Range, and Mount Hutt 



* Eeport on the Geology of the north-east portion of the South Island, from Cook's Straits to the- 

 Eakaia. By Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S., in Eeport of Geological Explorations during 1872-73. 

 Geological Survey of 2sew Zealand. 



