220 
THE GEOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
southward from Japan to New Zealand.* These at once strike 
the eye of the Geologist, as being the disrupted fragments ol 
an ancient continental line; nor can we help noticing that its 
general direction is parallel to another, extending from the 
Asiatic Continent, along the entire length of Australia, and 
further that these two, closely correspond, in the direction they 
take, with two others, which are on a still grander scale,-f the 
first comprising the entire western coast of the two Americas, 
the other taking in, the western sides of Africa and Europe. 
These four continental lines may, therefore, be termed the 
grand costae, or ribs of the world, since they have withstood 
all those convulsions which have so materially changed the 
face of our globe, and very probably submerged the far greater 
portion of the southern hemisphere. They moreover possess 
such distinctive features both in the character of their Botany, 
Zoology, and Ornithology, as to mark each of them as being 
a separate centre. Australia differs in its various productions, 
from every other part of the globe. New Zealand, also, as 
widely differs from it as the former does from the rest of theworld. 
If any weight be due to these conjectures, the New Zealand 
Isles, as the remains of one of these continental lines, may 
claim an equal antiquity with them, and thus destroy the 
common idea of their comparatively recent origin. That they 
have been constantly undergoing changes in their length and 
breadth, and that they are still far from being in a state of 
* An ancient continuous line of land will account for the presence of wing¬ 
less birds, such as the Apterix Australis or Kiwi and the Dinornis or Moa on 
these islands. Capt. King, B.N., states there are soundings from the Three 
Kings to Norfolk Island. 
f It is remarkable that the Gold regions chiefly lie in these lines. Spain, 
and the coast of Africa, which by way of distinction, is named the Gold Coast, 
forming one. The American line taking in Peru, Mexico, and California. 
The Australian line, Port Philip, New South Wales, Borneo, and several of 
the Indian Isles: and further acquaintance with the Geology of New Zealand 
may show that it also abounds in this precious ore for if we regard these 
continental lines as being waves of primal upheavement, and gold being 
probably the most ancient metal it is naturally to be looked for in the most 
ancient fissures of the earth’s surface in which it was formed. 
[Since this note was printed, the Author’s conjectures have proved correct, and lie has the 
credit of being the first who made them. The Gold Fields of Australia and New Zealand having 
been since discovered. J 
