THE GEOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
231 
In fact, the raising of sea-beaches is a very common occur¬ 
rence, and in every part of the island numerous instances are 
to be seen, several of which have occurred during my residence. 
quence of the elevation of the land, are dead, and the number is considerable 
enough to cause a strong smell to be perceived by those walking round the 
east side of the harbour towards Evans’ Bay. The Bally Bock, off Point 
Jerningham, which was formerly eighteen inches below low water (spring 
tides) is now about two feet above low water. About ten minutes after the 
first great shock, a great wave entered the harbour, which was estimated to 
to have been above twelve feet in vertical height; from the narrow entrance 
of the harbour compared to its area very little damage was done by it, but 
in the open and exposed boat harbour at Te Kopi, all the buildings, &c., on 
the beach, were swept away by a similar wave. Two coasters, one from the 
Kaikoras, the other from Point Underwood, on their approaching the har¬ 
bour the next morning at daylight, passed through an immense quantity of 
dead fish, principally ling, and quantities of dead fish were found on the beach, 
and at Burnham water. 
In the dividing range of hills between the Wairarapa and Wellington, on 
the east side of the harbour, there have been several very heavy landslips 
from their summits, which are plainly visible from Wellington. The earth¬ 
quake appears to have exerted great force on this range. 
To the Editor of The Nexu Zealand Spectator. 
Wellington, January 29, 1855. 
Sir,— Left Wellington on Wednesday, at ten o’clock, the morning after the 
shock; found several landslips on the Petoni Road, only one of any size, and 
that at present but a slight obstacle to the communication into the Hutt, a road 
being now rapidly pushed round its base; swing bridge over the river gone, 
broken, and ground burst up at each abutment, lower end fallen into the water, 
the whole aslant up stream: visible effects of the shock on the roads and 
country in general; presented stronger manifestations on entering the valley: 
as a rule, chimneys are down along the whole line; mills reported as damaged, 
houses damaged internally rather than externally: road, for seven miles, that 
is, up to three miles the other side of Buck’s Hotel, considerably injured; 
many of the smaller bridges gone at the lower gorges; several considerable 
land-slips occur, impassable for carts; from this point, for thirteen miles, as 
far as Hodder’s, the roads are all right, but three miles beyond, on the ascent 
up the Rimutaka gorges, for upwards of seven miles, the land-slips and crevices 
are both numerous, dangerous, and almost impassable, even on foot. Barri¬ 
cades of the largest trees, stumps, and rocks, avalanches of earth, underwood, 
decayed trees, and boulders, bar your progress, and conceal your line of road, 
•while loose logs and stones hang in threatening positions far above your head, 
so that a steady hand and cool head are necessary to carry you safely over the 
precipices that sweep down below you to the bottom of the valley : no sort of 
conveyance can pass; all horses are left at Ilodder’s Hotel, on this side the 
