Overview
Sun. Oct. 26
Lovely fine clear day. Left in gig at 7.30 + [and] drove to the Paiaka Road via Koputaroa. The Paiaka Road runs along a wedge shaped area of sandstone lying between the ^'border' swamps of the Manawatu River + the Koputaroa Stream. The edges of the area are indented by gullies. Sketched in topo. [graphical] + phys.[ical] details. Met a young fellow named Webb who lives near end of Paiaka Road + had a yarn. Followed western branch of road to Manawatu River. Beyond the river-truncated border of the sandstone is the swampy floodplain of the river – near the river the floodplain is "raised" + there drier + the bank of the river is dry + grassy for several chains. The river is slow-flowing + deep + lies about 16 ft. [feet] below its raised banks. These banks consist of laminated silt, soft but sufficiently coherent to present steep faces especially on the convex bends of the river. The laminae which consist of alternations of sand + silt, are grey, reddish + slate blue in colour
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and in general lie horizontal + even, but are also cross-bedded, or are waved or undulating. When dry the silt has a uniform light grey colour. Took a 1/4pl.[ate] photo of a clear section of the laminated silts with examples of the above bedding characteristics Reached river at 10.10am + left at 10.40 On way home left road + on foot explored the western margin of the sandstone area. Visited the dammed gully which contains the lagoon fed by an artesian well. Home at noon + received an invitation from Will Stewart to go there for dinner. This I accepted + in pm [afternoon] walked round the farm. Over to Cheslyn Rise to tea + drove to church in evening.