On the Geology of the Port Nicholson District, New Zealand
In the southern end of the Northern Island, metamorphic or greywacke rocks bound the shores of the harbour of Port Nicholson, and constitute the range, from 500 to perhaps 2500 feet high, running to the N.N.E. from Port Nicholson, and forming abrupt mountains with precipitous and narrow gorges. The stratification is irregular, contorted, and sometimes nearly perpendicular. The rock is frequently siliceous, sometimes argillaceous, and is often traversed by veins of quartz and by igneous rocks. This range is continued also to the S.S.W. in the Middle Island, on the other side of Cook9s Straits, and appears to form its central ridge. Between the greywacke range at Port Nicholson and the western coast are tertiary sands and clays, probably resting on the greywacke rocks. This country is low and level, until reaching Wanganni, 110 miles from Wellington. The level of the country from thence to Taranahi is higher, forming cliffs, in which the strata are distinct and fossil trees are found protruding from them.