THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 279

strata of the tertiary formation form the
cliffs from Greenpoint to the Waimea plains,
and in a line between the town and the
village of Richmond, the brown coal for-
mation extends, opened up at Mr. Jenkins'
coal mine.

The first excursion which I made after
visiting Nelson, was by the cliffs to this coal
mine, and it was with great surprise that I
saw the extraordinary disturbances which
must have taken place in the stratification.
The dip of the strata is towards the east, at
an angle of about sixty degrees. As it is
geologically impossible that a newer tertiary
stratum can underlie the older slate formations
of the ranges, it follows that the strata
about Mr. Jenkins's coal mine, by an im-
mense force from the eastward, must have
been completely turned over; and in the
mine itself there is abundant proof of this.
The strata there, show unmistakable evidences
that they have been rubbed and pressed
together. Under these circumstances it is
very doubtful whether a mine in that par-
ticular place could be successfully worked.

To Mr. Jenkins the people of Nelson are
indebted for proving to them that they have
coal in the immediate vicinity of the town,
and I think it not improbable that in the
same line of stratification between Nelson
and Richmond, a place may be found where,
perhaps, at a greater depth, the coal seams
lie in their natural position, and workings
may be carried on with success.

The diluvial formation, which constitutes
what is commonly known as the Moutere,
and Wai-iti hills, extending over an immense
tract of country towards the south, so far as
to the Rotorua lake, is nothing else than the
detritus of the eastern and western ranges
accumulated during a long period. It is
not surprising, therefore, seeing that a por-
tion comes from the auriferous rocks of the
western ranges, that prospecting parties of
diggers should have found gold at various
spots between those hills. And it is a fact
that the first gold in this province was dis-
covered in a stream which cuts through this
diluvium. I refer to the Motueka diggings
in Pig Valley, at the foot of the western
ranges. I have heard that quite recently
these diggings have been resumed with some
success. Bearing in mind the source from
which the gold is derived, I think it likely
that the nearer to the western ranges the
richer will be the diluvium, but it is at the
same time doubtful if it is rich enough, for
any extent, to be of much consequence.

I have had many questions put to me
with regard to the origin and character of
the Nelson Boulderbank: I have not time
to give such an explanation of it as I should
wish to present to you. The boulders of
which it consists are entirely syenite, and
the same rock is found on the precipitous
bluff which abuts upon the sea beyond
Drumduan. The source is thus explained:
Fragments are constantly falling from the
cliffs, and the action of the heavy northerly
swell, combined with a strong current, takes
them towards the south. The reason of their
being deposited on the existing line is,
that in all probability a submarine reef under-
lies them, of which the Arrow Rock in the
entrance of the Nelson harbour, may be re-
garded as the southern termination. This
supposition is strengthened by the fact of
the Arrow Rock being of the same altered
schists as occur immediately to the south of
the syenite. Before concluding, I wish to
make a few remarks upon Volcanic Forma-
tions in the Province, and upon some general
matters.

5.—VOLCANIC FORMATIONS.

Although there are no signs of a volcanic
action still going on in the Middle Island, as
far as regards active volcanoes, solfataras,
and fumaroles, like those in the Northern
Island, we have at the same time plenty of
proof that volcanic action has not been less
powerful in the Middle Island than in the
Northern.

I have not had an opportunity of visiting
the volcanic districts of this island; but still
feeling that I should make some remarks upon
this subject, I will endeavour to explain the
opinion which I have formed from specimens
and communications.

It is well known that the high peaks of
the Kaikoras, covered with perpetual snow,
are of volcanic origin. My friend Haast
describes the aspect of the three gigantic
cones visible from the Awatere valley as
most magnificent; three Mount Egmonts,
one behind the other the first one, Tapau-
enuka (or Mount Odin), 9,700 feet high, a
closed and rounded dome, similar in shape to
a cupola; the second one, further to the
south, a truncated-bifurcated cone, the bifur-
cation undoubtedly the indication of a crater
on the summit. From that peculiar form it
has acquired the common name of the
"nest mountain;" and the third gigantic
peak, pyramydical in form, like Mount Eg-
mont. Almost equal in height to those
landward Kaikoras, is the lofty range which
rises on the seaward side of the Clarence
river, the principal points of which have
been named Mount Thor, and Mount Freya.
Around these just mentioned Scandinavian
monarchs of the mass, are ranged several
smaller volcanic mountains, which I hope
may have the right to maintain their Maori
names.

It is not all surprising that accounts have
been received of newly-discovered hot springs