GRANITE IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11230, 27 November 1899, Page 7

GRANITE IN THE NORTH.

TO THE EDITOR. Might I briefly reply to Mr. Norman McLeod's remarks appearing in your issuo of 17th inst. under the heading, "To Correspondents ?" Mr. Major in his letter distinctly stales that in his opinion there is no granito at Parua Bay; and that true granite does not occur anywhere in the North Island, Mr. Major found no granite," but a bed, or a stratum of " andesite," with well-marked fluxion structure. Mr. McLeod says:— " Whether true granite exists in this part of tho colony appears to bo a question still ill dispute amongst geologists." As amongst New Zealand geologists, I say there is no dispute. Our leading geological experts, notably Sir James Hector, Mr. Alexander McKay, say this: That in North Now Zealand there' is 110 true granite. I claim to bo a practical geologist, with experience in Australasia extending ovci a period of 36 years, and I say that there is 110 tmo mnito in the North. Sir James Hector's opinion is:"There has been 110 granito described from the North Auckland peninsula, and I do not think it possible for it to occur there. The oldest rock north of Auckland is Devonian," etc. Mr. Mclv-"- says:—"As regards tho occurrence. of granito in your district, the filing is barely possible, and especially is it improbable in tiie mountain (Hikurangi) or near neighbourhood of Hikurangi. A fragment of granite might, oceui in conglomerates associated with the slato formation, but even this is unlikely. Acidic rocks of tertiary ago should not bo called granite. They are usually without mica, and even where mica is present this would scarcely bo good reason for naming them granite. But thoro is no danger, sinco as far as my memory serves me, tliero are 110 rocks in your district that might bo mistaken for granito except by someone who had fully made up his mind to have granite at any cost. It is absurd to suppose that granite is, or can bo, associated with the coal beds, whoso habitat is in the zone, and within the limits of tho crotertiary system of New Zealand.— am, ate,, T. Pearson Moody, M.1.M.E., Lifo Member Geologists' Association, London.