226 
THE GEOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
is a dee]) ravine, the charred timber is seen jutting out in large 
masses. This deposit, in some places, extends a very long way ; 
and, even at the mouth of the Wanganui, the low lands are 
deeply covered with it, as well as with solid lumps of charred 
wood. That Tongariro has caused the formation of the great 
Taupo lake, by the subsiding of the land to supply the place 
before occupied by so much ejected matter, appears certain; 
and further, that this occurred at different intervals is also 
evident; for, although the ancient extent of the lake was 
nearly double what it is at present, it seems to have become 
wider and deeper than formerly. Many trunks of trees are still 
visible in its waters, which were there when the country was 
first peopled, and are so well known that each bears the name 
of some ancestor. What is here said of Taupo, applies to all 
the neighbouring lakes as well; but whilst their basins were 
thus formed to the extent of the matter ejected, it is evident 
that the throes of the volcanoes mainly contributed to the 
elevation of the country. From the sea to the base of Taupo 
there is a regular series of stages, one rising higher than another, 
until wereach the central plains of Tongariro, thence the countiy 
gradually slopes to the north. But although much of the up- 
heavement of the land occurred during the time these volcanoes 
were in eruption, it isalso evident that even yet the landis rising. 
This must now solely be attributed to the agency of earthquakes. 
The southern and central parts of the island appear to be the 
principal seat of their action; and though, in general, the shocks 
are slight, yet, periodically, every five or six years, they have 
been more violent, and attended with more serious consequences. 
In the year 1843, Wanganui was the chief centre of volcanic 
movement; most of the chimneys in the little settlement were 
thrown down, the church was much injured, and the earth 
opened in parallel fissures ; the cliffs had every appearance of 
being upheaved a foot on one side of the river, whilst the 
ground on the other side, perhaps, subsided as much. The 
shocks invariably came from the same quarter, W.N.W.* 
* On the 81h July, 1843, a series of shocks were felt at Wanganui. The 
most severe one took place about 5 p.m., and lasted several minutes. It did 
