478 
GEOLOGICAL FEATURES OF OUR GLOBE. 
tlie result would be the depression of a large portion of that 
southern continent, but as it is said the New Zealand alps 
are now sinking,* the effect will be the upheaving of a por- 
tion of those lands formerly overwhelmed, and this appears 
to be actually the case ; the great plains at the eastern base 
of that range being one grand shingle bed, and even since 
the European has occupied the island, a singular instance in 
corroboration of this has occurred. The natives, when they 
sold the Middle Island, amongst other reserves refused to 
part with the lakes and rivers; one of the former, Lake 
Ellesmere, a large expanse of water, has within the last few 
years, become greatly reduced in size from the rising of 
the land, the natives observing this at once went on the 
desiccated land, began to cultivate it, and when ordered off 
refused to go, stating they had never sold the lakes. 
The same geological changes seem to be going on in 
North America, where the mountain ranges are of much 
less elevation than those of South America, the grand sa- 
line lakes, deserts, and prairies, seem to have once been 
inland seas, but are now gradually drying up, and before 
long will be available for man’s occupation. So with the 
mountain ranges of Norway, which also appears to be slowly 
subsiding, whilst the eastern base is likewise rising, thus 
Sweden is being elevated, and the Baltic becoming shoaler. 
Are then the lands of the Southern Hemisphere rising or 
subsiding ? As in general coral reefs have risen, for it is 
thus the atolls have been formed, so also the barrier reefs 
of Australia ; when the coral insect ceased its labours, then 
another power came into play, and elevated them above 
the highest water mark ; no doubt some of the islands 
have subsided and others been submerged ; ruins of build- 
ings, and even towers, are said to be seen beneath the sea 
level. The great depression likewise of the central plains 
of Australia is also adduced, all these instances seem to 
support the theory of Sir J. Herschel, that the sea bottom 
of the Pacific is sinking from the weight of superimposed 
matter, which is constantly being increased by the debris of 
* Dr. Hector, the Government Geeologist of New Zealand. 
