Overview
Sat. Jan. 13.
Dull + windy. After breakfast walked down town + purchased books +c. Driving rainstorm but soon passed over. Photo (6) of west side of Port Nicholson showing Wellington Fault “scarp” from Kelburn Park. Along to Victoria College to morning session of Sections C. + E combined. Presidential address of president of Section E,
[page break]
Prof. Griffith Taylor, D.Sc, on ‘Geography + Australian National Problems” illustrated by lantern slides of views + ingenious maps. Paper on “The Artesian Basins of Australia” by Mr. L. Keith Ward. Lunched in town + then walked down to Bowen St., the rendezvous for members attending the various afternoon excursions. Photo (7) Mr. + Mrs. J.A. Bartrum, former being lecturer on Geology at Auckland University. One party led by Prof C.A. Cotton set off for Tinakori Hills but I decided on the outing to Wainuiomata. For the latter a big party left in cars at 2.30 – others in my car were Prof H.B. Kirk, Prof. E.C. Andrews, gen[eral]. sec[retary] of A.A.A.S. Congress + of Sydney University + Govt. Geologist of N.S.W., Len Lancaster + W.R.B. Olwen + Mr. McGregor. The series of facetted spur-ends fringing the western shore of Port Nicholson + called by Prof. Cotton, the Wgton [Wellington] Fault scarp, are fronted by a rocky shore – platform some 3 chms or 4 chms in width. It would thus seem that the cutting of the spur-ends is the work of the sea + that the true line of the fault is along the seaward edge of the shore platform – the scarp is thus not a fault-scarp but at most a fault line scarp. Hanging gullies lie between the facetted spurs except where the longer stms [streams] have been able to regain (or maintain) ascendant deboucheres
[page break]
with the shore-line. The facetted spurs extend beyond the NW corner of Port Nicholson + form the western bdy. [body] of the alluvium-bottomed Hutt Valley. We proceeded through Petone, past the Hutt Peak where a trotting meeting was in progress, over high-level ferrs-concrete bridge spanning the Hutt River + up the hill roads leading to Wainui-o-mata. From near the road saddle, altitude between 600ft. + 700ft. I took photo (8) of northern part of Port Nicholson showing delta of Hutt R[iver]. (high tide), lower part of valley-plain of the Hutt + town of Petone. Good views of the aggraded back-tilted western branch valley of the Wainuiomata as we descended the other side of the ridge. In marked contrast, the main valley of the Wainuiomata has a terraced bottom indicating rejuvenation. Passed the Old Reservoir + proceeded up a new road to the Morton Dam. This dam, which is a hollow ferrs-concrete structure with internal buttresses, impounds a much large body of water than is held by the Old Reservoir. Just above the dam, a large left bank tributary with an extreme flat-surfaced incised [fan?] flows into the Morton Reservoir + the road continues up the valley of this tributary. We proceeded on foot through fine virgin bush which overarches this part of the road, as far as the tunnel which is
[page break]
being drawn through the divide to the Orongorongo R by Mr. Semplis co-operative gang, to provide the city of Wellington with an additional water-supply which will be piped from the tunnel right to Karori Photo (9) of tunnel entrance (on rather outlet end). A good deal of slickensided dark-coloured argillite occurs in the road-metal + in one specimen Mr. Bartrum identified a green patch as serpentine. Returned to Morton Dam + took photos (10) Morton Reservoir from small hill above dam. (11) Old Reservoir from same spot. (12) Party with cars at Morton Dam from same spot. Proceeded to lower end of Old Reservoir – photos (13) specimen of the tree Eugenia marie + (14) portrait of Prof. E.C. Andrews – and partook of afternoon tea under big pine trees + the company had its photo taken. Left for town about 5.pm + had a very interesting conversation with Profs. Kirk + Andrews on way back. Town at 6.30 – rushed up to Fern Hill, changed + Took Dulcie Denton to the Revue “Bran Pie” in Grand Opera House - played by the Miss Lee White – Clay White Company. – some clever hits such as Miss White singing “Winter Time” + one or two other numbers + dances by Zoe Wenke, and the dresses + some of the scenery + lighting effects were gorgeous – the audience seemed to enjoy the vulgar bits however + most of these were supplied by Miss White who was insupprisable. On the whole it was interesting + an experience – my first of revue. Retired at midnight