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coeval with the volcanic action, and developed to the greatest amount along the zones of volcanic action. It was in this time that the extensive plains on the east coast of the Middle Island, and the plateaus on the western side of the northern backbone, were raised above the sea.

The best proof of this rising of the land is to be found in the river terraces, which strike the eye of every traveller in the valleys of the Wairau, Awatere, Clarence, Motueka, Wangapeka, Buller, Takaka, and Aorere, and also in the lines of the sandy downs on the Port Cooper plains, which, now miles inland, mark the former limit of the sea.

These terraces are formed by the gradual rise of the land. If we suppose that, while the rivers are shaping out their beds, the upheaving movement is intermittent, so that long pauses occur, during which the stream will have time to encroach upon one of its banks, so as to clear away and flatten a large space, this operation being repeated at lower levels, there will be several successive cliffs and terraces. It is remarkable that in all the valleys the cliffs of the higher terraces are of greater altitude than the lower. At the Buller river, for example, near its outlet from the Rotoiti lake, the uppermost cliff is a hundred feet in height, and there can be distinguished in one portion of the valley not less than eight terraces. The character of the terraces shows that the upheaving force has been decreasing towards the present time, either in power or period. The extreme height of these terraces, being not more than about two thousand feet up the valleys, shows the whole amount of rise in these islands, since the tertiary period, to be about two thousand feet.

Even at the present day, there are facts which prove that the land of these islands is not stationary, but that the relative levels of water and dry land are undergoing constant modifications. The rise of land at Wellington, in 1855, to an average height of three or four feet, over a great extent of coast, is familiar to every colonist. This rise of land, however, is not general over New Zealand; for there are many proofs that, while on the eastern side of the islands the level of the land is being raised, on the western side the land is sinking. An axis of equilibrium passes through the islands, on the western side of which the movement is downward, on the eastern side upwards. The same axis, curving round parallel to the Australian coastline, crosses the Pacific between New Caledonia and the Loyalty group, and can be traced through the Solomon Islands to New Guinea.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—It now only remains for me to express my thanks to you for the attention with which you have followed my geological explanations. Much more still remains that I would wish to say, but I must now conclude.

I feel well assured that the mineral wealth of Nelson is not confined to what I have to-day mentioned, but believe that, in addition to gold, copper, and coal, future times will develop other valuable substances among your mountains and forests, which cannot fail to prove a source of wealth and prosperity to the Province of Nelson.

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Sections of LAND in the undermentioned Towns and Districts, proclaimed for sale on the 15th November next, in Proclamations dated respectively the 14th and 15th instant, are WITHDRAWN FROM SALE, the same being included in the new Province of Marlborough:—

Town of Cromwell
Town of Havelock
Havelock Suburban
Kenepuru
Mahakipawa
Omaka
Pelorus
Clova Bay
Near Clova Bay
Opposite Town of Havelock
Awatere
Waipapa
Port Underwood
Kaituna
Flaxbourne
North-bank of Wairau.

J. P. ROBINSON,
Superintendent.

ALTERATION OF ROADS.

THE undersigned hereby gives notice, that he intends to APPLY to two or more Justices of the Peace having jurisdiction within the Province of Nelson, at a sitting to be held on MONDAY, the 5th day of December now next, at the Court House, Richmond, for an ORDER for STOPPING UP and DIVERTING, and also for MAKING the undermentioned ROADS: and further, that he will cause survey plans of the several roads proposed to be stopped up, substituted, and made, together with books of reference and estimates, to be deposited, on or before the 31st day of October next, with the Clerk to the Magistrates at Richmond, and with Mr. WILLIAM STANTON, constable for Waimea East, and Mr. THOMAS ANDREWS, constable for Waimen South:—

To stop up part of a certain road in Waimea East, running from the trunk-line at Allington in a south-east direction to the hills, commencing at a point 8 chains south-east of the north corner of Section 51, and terminating at a point 14 chains from the south corner of Section 50, being about 19 chains in length;