LECTURE ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE PROVINCE OF 
NELSON. 
BY DR. F. YON HOCHSTETTER, 
Ladies axd GtEintlemek,— It is with much pleasure that I- 
respond to the wish expressed by you, and at the same time 
fulfil my promise of communicating the results of my geolo¬ 
gical explorations in a lecture on the geology of this Province ; 
and it is with a feeling of pride that I see so large and distin¬ 
guished an assemblage met here this evening. 
On my arrival in Nelson, in the beginning of the month of 
August, I hardly hoped to be able to extend my researches so 
far as to obtain an accurate idea of the geological features of 
the Province. The time allotted to me was very short ; the 
geological field of the Middle Island, on which I was entering, 
was, in comparison with that of the Northern Island, an entirely 
new one. Entering into Blind Bay upon a bright morning, I 
saw all round me lofty snow-covered mountain chains. It was 
the middle of winter, and I doubted whether at this season of 
the year extended geological researches were possible. This 
doubt was soon removed ; the glorious weather which favoured 
my excursions gave me full confidence in the far-famed and 
deservedly-praised Nelson climate. My first exploration opened 
up tome a field at once so interesting as regards scientific research, 
and at the same time of so great practical importance, from 
the existence of those very valuable substances, gold, coal, and 
copper, that, in order to give greater value to the results o^ 
my observations, I willingly resolved to respond to the wish of 
the inhabitants, and to remain a month longer among you. 
I feel myself in the highest degree obliged to the inhabitants 
of this Province, who, so soon as the ‘ Novara’ arrived in 
Auckland, invited the members of the expedition to visit 
Nelson, for the honourable and hospitable reception, and for 
the active assistance in the prosecution of my objects, which I 
