C.-2B

Conclusion. During the next few months several important reports have to be prepared, and others edited as they pass through the press. Next season's field-work has not yet been decided, but it is hoped to continue detailed geological survey in Taranaki, and to undertake the preparation of an exhaustive report on the lime and phosphate deposits of the Dominion. This work will necessarily entail a number of visits to various parts of New Zealand. In conclusion, the advisability of undertaking a soil survey of the Dominion may be urged. It may be suggested that this object could best be accomplished by the Agricultural Department and the Geological Survey working in conjunction, in some countries soil surveys are being made by a special staff attached to an Agricultural Department or Bureau, whilst in others they are under the control of the Geological Survey. In a small country such as tin's a combination of the two systems will probably give the happiest results. P. G. Morgan, Director, Geological Survey.

SPECIAL REPORTS. I. EGMONT SUBDIVISION. (By P. G. Mori;an.) During the past two seasons some interesting physiographic and geologic data have been obtained in the Egmont Subdivision, which, it will be remembered, includes the survey districts of Wairau, Cape, Egmont, Huiroa, and Ngatimaru, and contains the greater part of the great volcanic cone of Egmont. The following incomplete notes on the physiography and geology of the area are given in advance of the detailed report to be written during the coming winter. Physiography. The dominating physical feature of Taranaki is Mount Egmont, a wonderful extinct volcano, 8,260 ft. high. All lines of evidence .point to the fact that in a geological sense no great space of time has passed since the last exhibition of volcanic activity in this part of New Zealand, but at the present time not the slightest sign of vulcanism can be perceived, unless it is the existence of a solitary tepid spring on the lower slopes of Mount Egmont. The flanks of this mountain show almost in perfection the catenary curves that arc characteristic of the typical volcano built mainly of fragmentary material ejected from a single vent. Its symmetry has as yet been little affected by erosion, and is almost unbroken by parasitical cones, with the exception of Fautham's Peak, a somewhat pronounced excrescence high on it southern side, and two small dome-shaped bumps far down the southern slopes. The north-western slope of Egmont does not reach a low level, but meets the Pouakai Range, an irregular and somewhat deeply dissected mountainous mass of andesitic agglomerate, with minor flows and dykes of andesite. The highest point, Pouakai Peak, is 4,590 ft. above sea-level. Without doubt the Pouakai Range represents a great extinct volcano, older than the present Mount Egmont, but not necessarily materially older than its hidden central portion or core. A flat semi-swampy area between the main part of the Pouakai Range and Mount Egmont, surrounded for three-fourths of its circumference by peaks and spurs of the Pouakai, indicates the position of the main crater. Between the Pouakai Range and the coast are the Kaitake Hills, with Patua Peak, 2,240 ft. high, as their highest point. They also are of volcanic origin, and bear the same relation to the Pouakai Range as that does to Mount Egmont. The lower slopes of Mount Egmont and the Pouakai Range pass imperceptibly into a gently sloping plain, well developed near inglewood and to the south, where it is only very slightly incised by the streams that traverse it. In a general way this plain, though dissected by streams, may be traced to the north-west through Koru to Oakura, and thence westward into the country near Cape Egmont, where it again opens out into a plain, diversified, however, by the innumerable low rounded elevations hereinafter designated "conical hills." Southward the Inglewood plain extends through Stratford to Hawera, and becomes merged in the great Wanganui coastal plain; but from the Stratford-Hawera district it also extends westward and northward to Manaia and Opunake, thus ultimately completely encircling Mount Egmont, together with the closely allied Pouakai Range and Kaitake Hills. The Inglewood plain is bounded on its northern side by the Tapuae-Manganui Ridge,' described by Clarke.* This ridge, extending from near Oakura to Inglewood, may bo regarded as a relatively elevated portion of the Inglewood plain. It is intersected by a number of streams, notably the Waiongona, which has formed a broad valley across it, now followed by the railwayline from, Inglewood to Lepperton. The summit of the so-called ridge is formed of a number of subsidiary even-topped ridges, all sloping regularly seawards —that is, away from Mount Egmont. If one disregards the valley of the Manganui the Tapuae-Manganui Ridge may be said to merge into the low ridges of similar or somewhat greater height that extend towards the Waitara

* Clarke, E. de C. : "The Geology of tho New Plymouth Subdivision, Taranalu Division." N.Z. G.S. Bull No 14 1912, pp. 5 and 8.

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