THE GEOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
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prevails from the North Cape to the Bay of Islands.* Steatite 
is also common. Limestone shows itself in various localities, 
and when it comes in contact with whin, it is seen in apparently 
half melted lumps in the midst of that rock; in other parts 
it assumes an amygdaloid form. Another line of limestone 
appears at Mokau, a third at Waiapu, near the East Cape. 
A LIMESTONE CAVE, AT PUKEMAPAU. 
These limestone ranges are remarkably destitute of fossils, 
but generally they partake more of the purity of marble, 
although the surface rock contains many particles of clay stone 
gravel. At Mokau there are numerous caves, in some of 
which the bones of the Moa have been discovered.f At 
Wangaroa gneiss forms the summit of the two mountains, St. 
Peter and St. Paul. The same is the prevailing rock at 
* Magnetic iron sand abounds in many localities; it is heaped up on the 
shores in hillocks of several feet in height, and it has been found to be very 
pure, and will eventually prove a valuable article of commerce. 
f About a mile from Pukemapau, we came to a large cave in the limestone 
range which is here first met with. It is called Tanaure-ure. It has a large 
lofty entrance, with a native Fuschia growing at its mouth, bearing a more 
delicate flower than that of the ordinary kind. Huge masses of stalactite 
hang pendant from the roof, and, further in, we perceived a chasm, which, 
when a stone was thrown, told us there was water at the bottom. By the 
aid of a candle, we found our way down, when we came to a fine crystal 
stream, about a foot or so deep, which was soon passed. Having ascended 
the opposite side about twenty feet, and crept through a narrow passage 
among stalactites, which were united with the floor, we entered another 
R 2 
