Overview
Wed. Jan. 26.
Found most of the scientists attending Congress staying at the Empire. Became acquainted with Mr J A Bartram, lecturer on geo[logy] at Auckland University + again met Dr J. A. Thomson + Mr P. G. Morgan. Was introduced to Mr Johannes C. Anderson, Hon[ourable] G.M.Thomson, Prof[essor] Marshall + Dr. Buck. As in ChCh [Christchurch] the session of sections commenced at 9. am - this time the local Boys High School. In geol[ogy] section, Prof. Park delivered a presidential address on “The Birch + Development of N.2 as a Geographical Unit”. Then followed papers by: - Prof. Marshall on “The Cretaceous Rocks in the Kaipara district” with remarkable exhibit of ammonites of all sizes from that of a large saucer to that of a pea. Dr J.A. Thomson on “The Geology of Western Samoa”. G.L. Adkin on “The Structure of Mangahao No1 Gorge
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+ it's bearing on the Construction of the proposed dam”. This was well received, the president saying that it was a good instance of the bearing of pure science on engineering + commercial matters. A few questions were asked + these I replied to + elucidated by diagrams on blackboard. In D. C. A. Cotton’s absence Mr Bartrum read the former’s paper on “The warped Lands Surface of the South-eastern side of the Port Nicholson” but did not get through it. I obtained a loan of the paper for perusal. A striking feature is it's similarity in phrasing + description to my recent paper on Porirua Harbour – both areas being part of the same phys[ical] district. Cotton’s paper deals with the coastal platforms, valley features + 1865 beach + other raised beaches, +c, +c of Orongorongo district + Palliser Bay – localities with which I happen to be familiar. The paper leans to theories I have held for some time, but contains a number of observations new to me, + I was able to detect some errors and both facts + deductions therefrom, as follows:- The word warping in the title of the paper appears to refer to the “fold scarp” which D. Cotton now believes forms the eastern bdy [boundary] of the Port Nicholson depression + he does
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not appear to recognise any other warping of the back slope of the tilted earth-block forming the Rimutaka Range. How then are the north-south courses of the principal rivers of the district in spite the big tilt to the west to be explained? Cotton mentions the former draining of the valleys of [Gollams?] Stn [Station] + the Wainuiomata river at their lower ends but states that there was no subsidence at the mouth of the Orongorongo as the river flows over bedrock at its mouth. He is thus unaware of the deeper filled channel of the Orongorongo which lies a little to the east of the present mouth. The drowning of the lower ends of these valleys was, of course, not due to the local subsidence but due to the widespread [sporogenic?] substance that terminated the great elevation of NZ [New Zealand] in the early Pleistocene. D Cotton does not appear to recognise this great movement at all. Cotton also states that the 1865 uplift + the preceding uplifts indicated by the [Turakuae?] beaches are not connected with the earlier tilting movements that elevated the high coastal platforms because the “Turakirae Coastal plain” (i.e. the raised shore platform on which the Turakirae beaches lie) because it slopes “contrary to expectations” in
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a the reverse direction to the high costal platforms. This is of course erroneous + obviously based on a false conception of the origin, nature + significance of the Turakirae raised shore-platform. Cotton’s use of the term “coastal plain” is very objectionable + quite contrary to its employment by Davis, Travis + others who apply it only to an uplifted sea-floor of fine sediments – the Turakirae shore platform is narrow plain or beach of marine denudation, it's rather exceptionally steep slope being due to the fact that the land was sinking during its formation. Returned to Empire for dinner. At 2:15 we assembled at the Post Office where cars met us to take us to the Tiritea Waterworks. Met Len Lancaster + he + I with others went in Mr M. H. Oram’s car. In discussing with Len Prof. Marshall's geol[ogy] notes on the Palmerston district in the town year book, the origin of the Manawatu Gorge, about which I have thought a good deal at various times, crystallized in my mind as follows:- In Tertiary times there were two Island masses, the Ruahine + the Tararua, the latter probably the larger – a broad strait between. The Early Pleistocene uplift raised the Wanganui-Hawkes Bay coastal plain. Headwaters +
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tribs [tributaries] of Manawatu R[iver] drained eastern slopes of Ruahine + Tararua Ranges + flowed southward through the Wairapapa. The deformation of the Wanganui-Hawke's Bay coastal plains blocked the course of the rivers towards the south by the upward warping on one transverse line running east from the main hydrographic centre of the Tararuas: + the downward warping on another tranverse line coinciding with the former strait between the Ruahine + Tararua islands of Tertiary lines +with the present Manawatu Gorge, caused a deviation of the Manawatu R. from its original course to its present one. Down cutting through the Tertiary beds into the underlying greywacke Tararua-Ruahine axis gave the Manawatu R. its present superimposed course. The westward outlet of the Gorge was at first further west than at present but after the building of its fan, the Manawatu by lateral platform, removed the hills of the Tertiary Strata, shortening the Gorge to its present length before excavating its present terraced trench. The road to Turitea crosses Fitzherbert Street Bridge + ascends the high terrace of the Horowhenua coastal plain formation. We passed the branch road leading to Paihiatua + descended into the valley of the Turitea Stream. Terraces of gravel +
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shingle with flat top of the sandstone formation above. Hereabouts, as I noted long ago, this formation has a considerable variation in texture + mineralogical composition when compared with the same formation at Levin +c. Higher up the Turitea Valley contracts to a narrow greywacke gorge - much purple rock in places- the stm [stream] forms over rough rocky bed. Leaving the car at the end of road, we proceeded along a track + joined the main party at pm. Tea at a spot just below the reservoir. Inspected reservoir – concrete dam 50ft [foot] in height + about 50 yds [yards] in length. The catchment area is 8000 acres, mostly origin bush – capacity of reservoir 22,000,000 gallons. We followed a track which runs this beautiful bush on the N.E [north-east] shore of the long winding Lake. (1) 1/4 pl[ate] photo of dam from below. (2) Upper reach of reservoir (3) Boat at upper end reservoir (4) Reservoir with boat from dam.
[Thumbnail sketch on left hand side of page of Reservoir]
The reservoir is about half-a-mile long + which bush-clad faces come down to the waters edge. Left about 5:30 p.m. After dinner at Empire D. L. Cockayne introduced himself saying that he had wished to meet me for some time – he said he included my photo of the glaciated part of Park
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Valley in his second edition of “N.Z Plants + their Story” because he wished to show that he agreed with me as to the Glaciation in Tararuas. He also very kindly praised my original paper on “Ohau R[iver] + adjacent Coastal Plain” + said that though boyishly written, it was the first paper of its kind in the trans NZ [New Zealand] Inst[itute]. We walked together to the Opera House – lecture on ‘The Scientific Control of Insect Pests’ by Dr Tilyard of Cawthorn Institute. Lantern slides very interesting. Sat with Mr Bartrum who was introduced to Mr R Waters of agri[cultural?} depart[ment]. Joined Len Lancaster after lecture + went for ices at ‘Cosy’ on Square – most of the other visiting scientists were equally frivolous. Room-mate at hotel a chap named Beattie who contributed a paper on the “Strange Disappearance of the Maoris in the Fiordland District, Otago”.