10 
THE GEOLOGY OE AUCKLAND. 
ally MM. Dieffenbach and Dana, had already visited and 
decribed at length some parts of the Northern country. 
Through the liberality and excellent arrangements of the 
General and Provincial Governments, I have been enabled in 
a comparatively short time to travel over and to examine the 
larger portion of the Province South of Auckland, extending 
as far as Lake Taupo and Tongariro V olcano, the boundaries 
between this Province and those of Wellington and Hawke's 
Bay. I have thus obtained materials which will enable me, on 
my return to Europe, to construct a Topographical and Geolo¬ 
gical Map of the central part of the Northern Island. 
My observations have, with the able assistance of Mr. Drum¬ 
mond Hay, extended from the East to the West Coast; and the 
numerous peaks and ranges have afforded facilities for fixing 
with satisfactory accuracy, by means of magnetic bearings , on 
the basis of points previously fixed by the nautical survey of 
Capt. Drury on the coast-line, all the great natural features of 
this portion of the country. A great number of barometrical 
observations have afforded me the means of ascertaining the 
heights of mountains and plains in the interior, which I shall 
be able to calculate with accuracy by the aid of corresponding 
daily observations, taken in Auckland by Colonel Mould, who 
has kindly forwarded me a copy of his tables. 
I have also obtained photographic and other views of great 
interest, many of which were taken by the gentlemen who 
accompanied me on the expedition for this purpose ; and a large 
number of exceedingly valuable sketches have been contributed 
by the talented pencil of our president, Mr. C. Heaphy, for 
future publication in a geological atlas. Many of these are 
decorating the walls and others are lying on the table, and I shall 
be happy to show them to any ladies and gentlemen who may 
feel any interest in seeing them, at the conclusion of the lecture. 
My collections have been growing from day to day, and 
include specimens of great interest in most branches of Natural 
History. I owe a great deal to the indefatigable zeal of my 
friend and fellow-traveller, Mr. J. Haast, who assisted me in 
collecting during our expedition. I am also much indebted to 
Mr. J. Crawford at Wellington, Mr. A. S. Atkinson of Tara¬ 
naki, Mr. Triphook of Hawke's Bay, Mr. H. T. Kemp of the 
