CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume I, Issue 22, 19 October 1861, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH.

On Monday next, a. grand Concert will be given in the Town Hall by the members of tho St. Cecilia Harmonic Society. The programme, which will be found in our advertising columns includes, besides some lighter pieces, two of Haydn's symphonies, and sclec* ■ions from different operas by Rossini, Donizetti, and Verdi. We believe that the members of the society have been long and carefully preparing for this concert, and that they are likely to do themselves full justice. The proceeds of the concert are to be applied to the purpose of buying a stock of music and instruments. A large quantity of very valuable music helonging to the -Society was lost in tbe fire which took place in Cashel street last May. We heartily wish the Society success in their efforts to replace, so far as it can be done, what they then lost.

Lecture by Mr. Haast.—On Wednesday evening Mr. Haast the Government Geologist delivered in the Town Hall the lecture of which we gave notice last week. The room was very crowded, and there were about 300 persons present. Notwithstanding the scientific nature of his subject, Mr. Haast contrived to make his lecture very entertaining and he was listened to throughout w'ithgreat attention. Dr. Prinse took the chair and in a few words introduced Mr. Haast to the audience. Mr. Haast then commenced his lecture. We arc sorry that we are not able to give it in extenso, as it is highly interesting, but the following abridgment will be read with pleasure, at least, by those who were unable to attend : — Mr. Haast began bis lecture by promising that he would not weary his audience by presenting his subject to them in a dry scientific form. He would endeavour to treat it in a popular and a possible entertaining manner. He then mad-

some remarks lqwn tbe general interest and of the science of (J oology; and expressed the gratification which he felt himself, in being permitted to be\is it were the hi'di priest ministering in the sacred ofliee of expounding its truths He proceeded to give a general sketch of tho physical configuration of New Zealand ; the chief feature of which he explained to be the existence of a longitudinal system of high mountains, broken through by Cook s straits, and by a few rivers. Parallel to this Alpine chain, in the south island, run two volcanic zones. The oldest of these bounds the plains to the West, and consists of trachytes and phonolites, at the foot ot winch the extensive lignite beds are found. These strata of sedunentary origin are broken through by basaltic and doleritic Wv ° f ~ mo . ro recent <lilte ! probably of the same age as liauks lemnsula. Tbe second volcanic zone runs near tincoast, shewing itself at Port Chalmers, Bank's Peninsula' ana probably at the northern extremity of the island. «,;. ■ r _" fn,u , l entcrin X into ai-y further description of ™lVi!, ?V ° T lO Byste,n ' ** Ir - Hnast lms alr eady «,™ • m <l^;«i., nc «"--'t of it in his able and accurate survey of the Port Hills. The Canterbury plains consist of two different formations, their lower part where their rivers fill up and flow above the level of the plain, hko the Po and the Adize in Europe they are entirely alluvial. But seven or aight miles from the sea their character changees. The rivers begin to excavate terraces are formed, increasing m number as you ascend the nvers, and reaching at the foot of the bills an altitude of 300 feet This part of the plains has been depoaited during the glacial period or great drift formation. Tho drift formation is developed in tee Southern Alps in a most remarkable manner • and is found to exist there at an altitude of , r »000 feet above the sea level. Mr. llaast mentioned that at one place, in the upper Uangitata plains he had counted _8 terraces, one above another, reaching a total altitude of 1700 feet above the river. The glacial period is, geologically speaking, of very recent date. The configuration of the earth was then as it is now, but from causes which are still subjects of animated discussion the whole of the surface at present covered by the drift formation was sunk several thousand feet below the level of the sea: only the highest mountain ranges standing out as islands from which huge glaciers descended, carrying great fragments of rock and depositing them as they melted at the bottom of the sea.

Ibe Southern Alps begin properly south of the saddle between the Taramakau and Hurunui, ami so far as they have been examined consist entirely of sedimentary rocks,—sandstones and slates. But Mr. Haast expressed his opinion that the pleutome rocks which are developed so highly north of the Hurunui, might bo found to appear again in the Waitam-i the branches of which run parallel to the main chains. "After having giveii in a condensed form an explanation of tho formation of glaciers, and the interesting phenomena connected with them, Mr. Haast led his audience with him on bis travels to the sources of the Rangitata, picturing in vivid colours tbe magnificent scenery which surrounded him there, mountaingiants clothed in dazzling white snow, from which hu-c glaciers descend in all directions; black and rugged mountain peaks standing out boldly above the snow ; broad glaciers, sometimes covered with detritus, sometimes of the purest white, or again where the ice was cracked and fissured shewing the p most beautiful colours, blue, green, and (what is not found in European glaciers) a deep rose colour: water-falls descending the terminal face of the glaciers with a fall of 1500 or wHIn, Jhe ? co,,w y » f t]l e Alps in Mr. Haast's opinion * _ hear comparison with any to be found in Eurone *rom the blue ice-vaults of these glaciers rush tho turbid waters which joining together give %irth to the £,2' Mr. Haast described numerous glaciers, tho two »-£5. i ones being at the head of the itvelocl and tm OSSTff. twomain source-branches of the Han-nt-ira Tl,„ tV i ■ gladei* lies at mi altitude of (ftSt o/02 feet above the sea-level. ** faciei .it ft is impossible in this short outline to give any ademiaf c descri])tion of Mr. Haast's journey, or of tho «„i'fJ * , magnificent scenery through which £ 2JJ £he,i be lecture upon the gold-fields of Canterbury W glVt '''' The audience listened throughout with marked attention and frequently applauded the lecturer. At the close r' Prmse thanked Mr Haast for the great treat wbicl 1 0 hid aftorded them and complimented him upon the minerS attendance which, notwithstanding the bad weather" h 1 gathered to receive him. ' The annual Club Ball was given afthe new Club House on Thursday. 1 here were about two hundred persons present and there was an exceedingly brilliant assembly J ]£? Dancing commenced soon after 9 o'clock, and waa contin .e,i till nearly dawn. The Christchurch baud ploy. Ton th casion, and did themselves great credit. Sfi X ms, wh i are still m an unfinished state, were tastefully hung w t drapery, flags, evergreens, and flowers: The ve_etabl ornaments were arranged by Mr. Hobinson, and the effecfc i"pvery graceful and pleasing. The supper and refreshments wire provided by Mr. 811 -dse„ and were all that could be «le 3 -d Inc Club-house -which will hereafter be tenanted bymoro,-'. bachelors, or husbands of bachelor views, maybe congmt - lated on having >ts birth-day celebrated by the presence f such a sj.le.idu? gathering of what Mr. Anthony calb

TW?n are i c " mr>cl . l r 110 r ? serve ti]l - iext week a petition to the I rovincial Council, now in course of signature, on the subject of town drainage. «»"j-.v.i,