256 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [Nov. 
Every phase of geological science is given attention—the palaeontologic, 
petrographic, structural, physiographic, and economic. However, especial 
stress is laid upon the economic side of geology, which relates to the occur¬ 
rence of minerals of commercial value, and has a direct bearing upon the 
mining industry, the development of which is so important in any new 
country.” 
It may be noted that a manuscript map still in existence shows that 
Sir James Hector in the early days of his directorate intended to make a 
complete geological survey of New Zealand on a basis similar to that out¬ 
lined by Dr. Bell, but the difficulties already mentioned and other circum¬ 
stances prevented the plan from being carried out to any great extent, 
though the Buller Coalfield was evidently executed in accordance with it. 
The scheme of geological survey instituted by Dr. Bell has been followed 
to the present time, and a number of bulletins accompanied by areal maps 
on the scale of 1 inch to the mile (1 : 63,360) have been published. In one 
case (Tuapeka District—Bulletin No. 19) the geological map is on the smaller 
scale of 2 inches to the mile (1 : 126,720). Besides the geological maps 
many topographical maps, usually on the 1 : 63,360 scale, together with 
various large-scale maps of special mineral areas, have been issued. The 
state of the survey as at the 30th June, 1921, may be summarized as 
follows :— 
Areas in which surveys are completed and work pub- Sq. m. 
lished on the 1 : 63,360 scale . . .. .. 8,803 
Area in which survey is completed and work published 
on the 1 : 126,720 scale .. .. .. 325 
Areas in which surveys are completed, but work is not 
yet published .. .. .. .. 5,327 
Areas in which survey is in progress . . . . 677 
Area (Heaphy) in which work is suspended .. .. 293 
Sq. km. 
22,7984 
841-7 
13,796-1 
1,753-3 
758-8 
Totals 
15,425 39,948-3 
Area resurveyed (Whatatutu) .. . . .. 312 809-3 
The total area of New Zealand proper ( i.e ., excluding the Cook and 
other islands annexed in 1901) is 103,581 square miles,* equal to 268,258-7 
square kilometres. Hence somewhat over one-seventh of the Dominion has 
been or is being geologically surveyed in detail. Much more than one- 
seventh of the work required to make a complete geological map answering 
to the requirements of the present day has been done, because of the 
foundation afforded by the early reconnaissance surveys, and the fact that 
most of the country remaining to be surveyed is less difficult than the 
average of that already mapped. In order, however, that this statement 
may remain true the present survey must be completed during the present 
generation, otherwise the progress of geological science will render the work 
already accomplished partly obsolete before the detailed survey now in 
hand has reached every part of the country. 
* New Zealand Official Year-book, 1919, p. 1. 
