307 Canterbury and Westland. 



the list of fossils which have been described from this formation the" 

 principal species indicated have been found in this locality. Owing 

 to the occurrence of Pecten Hochstetteri and some other fossils from 

 the Weka Pass beds, I formerly thought that the Curiosity Shop beds 

 were of the same age as the Weka Pass stone, but further research, 

 aided by the description of the fossils, has shown that they have to 

 be classed with the Oamaru formation. 



More to the south the Oamaru formation appears to take entirely 

 the place of the Waipara formation, unless we assume that some of 

 the isolated Brown coal basins, situated on the banks of the Ashburton 

 and Opihi, belong to the latter. I allude here principally to the beds 

 on the banks of the North Ashburton, near the junction of the Stour 

 with the Ashburton, and to another locality near Lake Heron. The 

 Oamaru formation is of some importance to the Ashburton and Rangi- 

 tata districts, as it contains large beds of limestone, and other deposits 

 of similar economic value. Although still of considerable extent, we 

 observe only remnants of a well-developed formation, once covering 

 uniformly the whole portions of the lower country, but which, 

 owing to extensive denudation, principally by glacier and fluviatile 

 action, has now disappeared in most localities. The most complete 

 section of these beds is to be observed on the northern banks of the 

 Ashburton between Limestone Bluff and the Two Brothers. It shows 

 that we have before us beds of various character, ranging from deep 

 sea deposits, through others of intermediate character, to shallow 

 water and estuary beds. This section also fixes the time when the 

 submarine eruptions took place, the former channels of which, now 

 filled with basalts, we observe in several localities. The following 

 succession of beds was observed by me, near and at the Limestone 

 Bluff (section No. 1 on plate No. 5), and is here given in descending 

 order : — 



No. 1 — Limestone, white on the summit of the ridge, 

 in flaggy layers, consisting principally of pieces 

 of shells and corals, and offering splendid material 

 for the limekiln. Strike 290 deg., dip towards 

 east-south-east 55 deg. ... ... ... ... about 15 feet. 



INo. 2 — Changes into arenaceous limestone, forming 



thick beds without divisions ... ... ... „ 70 „ 



No. 3 — Dark brown volcanic tufas, with numerous 



lapilli of basaltic lava enclosed „ 15 „ 



