THE GEOLOGY OP NELSON. 
allowed, without mentioning individual names, to express my 
most sincere thanks to all these gentlemen lor their active 
assistance and valuable contributions to the ‘ IN ovara’ collec¬ 
tion. 
I have begun to put together on a map the results oi my 
observations, with the view of laying the foundation ot a 
Geological Map of the Province of Nelson. So soon as time 
will allow me to complete this map, I will hand over to you a 
copy of it with pleasure; at the same time expressing a wish 
that the numerous friends of geology among you, and if they 
will allow me to say it, my geological scholars here, may 
continue it and improve it, where I, either from want of time 
or inaccessibility of the district, have not been able to fill in 
the details. 
I will now come to the subject matter of my lecture. 
I.—PHYSICAL PEATUllES. 
The character of the surface is always more or less indicative 
of the geological structure of a country. Even to those who 
have not deeply studied the science, the different forms which 
mountain ranges show, will indicate a different geological 
formation. The difference in these external appearances of 
the country is very striking, if you come from the JMoithem 
to the Southern Island. 
In contrast with the comparatively low plateaus extending 
over the largest part of the IN or them Island, and bioken only 
by high volcanic peaks, you find on the Middle Island lofty and 
abrupt mountain ranges, striking in long parallel, chains, 
divided by deep longitudinal valleys, and broken at right angles 
by rocky gorges. This complication of rock and goigeiuns as 
the great backbone of the island from north-north-east to 
south-south-west, and from strait to strait. Well do you name 
it your “ Southern Alps.” Amongst them rises in grandeui a 
mountain named after the great discoverer of the South Sea, 
Mount Cook, of a height equal to Mont Blanc. . It towers 
above the rest, crowned with perpetual snow, with lavines 
glistening with glacier ice. To the steep perpendiculai c liffs 
with which the Southern Alps breast the stormy sea on the 
west coast, arc opposed fertile plains extending along the 
eastern shore. 
