118 Lecture on the Geology of [No. 9, new series. 



SELECTIONS. 



Lecture on the Geology of the Province of Auckland, New Zea- 

 land. [Delivered to the Members of the Auckland Mechanics' 

 Institute, June 24, 1859.] By Dr. Ferdinand Hoch-stet- 

 ter, Geologist on board the Austrian frigate " Novara" and 

 Member of the Austrian Scientific Novara Expedition. 

 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen. — The members of the 

 Auckland Mechanics' Institute having done me the honor to 

 elect me as honorary member of their institution, and the Com- 

 mittee having invited me to give a Lecture upon the Geology of this 

 Province, I have much pleasure in complying with their request. 

 It is, however, with some hesitation that I undertake this task, 

 fearing that my imperfect knowledge of the English language will 

 prevent my making the short sketch I wish to lay before you as 

 interesting as it might otherwise have been. Notwithstanding 

 this drawback, I am glad to have this opportunity of giving the 

 inhabitants of this Province, through the members of this Insti- 

 tute, such a resume as I can of the chief results of the Geological 

 Survey I have made of those parts of the country I have visited. 



I feel this, indeed, to be a duty I owe to the community at large, 

 in return for the very kind reception that has everywhere been 

 given me— for the ready help that has always been afforded by 

 all whom I have met with — and for the interest that has been 

 shown by all in the proceedings of the Imperial Austrian " No- 

 vara" Expedition. 



Having, in the months of January and February, completed my 

 Survey, and finished a Geological Map, of the Auckland District, 

 which I now have the pleasure of showing you, the necessity 

 arose for my choosing either the Northern or the Southern portion 

 of the Province for my farther researches, my limited stay in New 

 Zealand rendering it impossible for me to make a sufficient exa- 

 mination in both directions. 



I did not hesitate to choose the Southern districts — for these 

 reasons : that the country over which I should there proceed, is 



