THE GEOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
447 
an ancient continental line ; nor can we help noticing that 
its general direction is parallel to another, extending from 
the Asiatic Continent, along the entire length of Australia, 
and further, that these two closely correspond, in the direc- 
tion they take, with two others, which are on a still grander 
scale,* the first comprising the entire western coast of the 
two Americas, the other taking in the western sides of Africa 
and Europe. 
These four continental lines may, therefore, be termed the 
grand costae, or ribs of the world, since they have withstood 
all those convulsions which have so materially changed the 
face of our globe, and very probably submerged the far 
greater portion of the southern hemisphere ; they moreover 
possess such distinctive features both in the character of 
their Botany, Zoology, and Ornithology, as to mark each of 
them as being a separate centre. Australia differs in its 
various productions, from every other part; New Zealand, 
also, as widely from it, as the former does from the rest of 
the world. 
If any weight be due to the conjecture that the New 
Zealand Isles were the remains of a grand continental line, 
they may claim an equal antiquity with them, and destroy 
the common idea of their comparatively recent origin ; that 
they have been constantly undergoing changes in their length 
and breadth, and are still far from being in a state of qui- 
escence, is evident, but that their general framework is as 
ancient as that of other parts of the earth's surface, appears 
unquestionable. 
* It is remarkable that the gold regions chiefly lie in these lines. Spain, and 
the coast of Africa, which by way of distinction is named the Gold Coast, form- 
ing one. The American line taking in Peru, Mexico, and California. The 
Australian line, Port Philip, New South Wales, Borneo, and several of the 
Indian Isles : and further acquaintance with the Geology of New Zealand may 
show that it also abounds in this precious ore, for if we regard these continental 
lines as being waves of primal upheavement, and gold being probably the most 
ancient metal, it is naturally to be looked for in the most ancient fissures of the 
earth’s surface, in which it was formed. 
[Since this note was printed in 1850, the Author’s conjectures have proved 
correct, and he has the credit of having been the first who made them. The 
Gold Fields of Australia and New Zealand having since been discovered.] 
