PREHISTORIC OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16684, 3 May 1916, Page 8

PREHISTORIC OTAGO

ADDRESS BY DR MARSHALL. The Otnfjfo Institute held the opening meeting of its winter session at the Museum last evening, when the president (Dr P. Marshall) delivered an address on " Prehistoric Otago." This was in the nature of a presidential address based on Dr Marshall's own research and yet summarising the position of science in regard to a particular matter of interest to members. Dr Marshall b"gan by pointing out that Otago as yet had no history, for it was on March 22, 1848, that the first organised settlement began. Dr M'Nab in his valuable researches had shown that from 1792 onwards Otago had been visited by whalers and traders, who snatched a more or loss precarious livelihood always in fear of the Maoris. Dr Marshall outlined the main incidents of Captain Cook's visits to these parts, and stated that even before his timo there was a considerable amount of history, but it was mainly legendary. It might be put down that the Maoris first visited Otago about the year 1300, but it was interesting to note the very limited knowledge that the Maoris had of their own country. Wakatipu was not actually seen by a European till 1857, and the map of Wakatipu published at that time indicated it as a mere pond. It was his intention, however, to go away back through the dim ages right tc> tho very birth of the earth, for New Zealand was of very great age. In the regions of the Sounds the lqnd was probably one of the oldest portions of tho earth's surface. We could be certain of that fact, because of the occurrence of fossils of animals found only at that far distant period of the earth's history. By means of plans and maps tho lecturer indicated tho varying geological periods to which different portions of Otago belonged. A great part of Otago showed a formation that had evidently been laid down in the triassic period on the beach of some great continent, but where that, continent extended to had not yet been determined. Down about the I Nuggets they found fossil remains of great reptiles 35ft or 40ft long belonging to tho triassic period. At Curio Bay they could go and walk among the fossilised stumps of trees that had lived in tho jurassic period 10 or 15 million yc-ars ago. After this timo a great change took place, and the svrface of the country was crushed and folded up by immense pressure which formed our mountain ranges. Later again a largo portion of the country was submerged beneath the sea, and Now Zealand became a series of islands, and its flora and fauna ntie largoly tropical. Once more the land wa3 elevated, not uniformly, but in pieces, as it were. At Blue Spur tho results of this could bo clearly seen where one portion had sunk and the adjoining portion had been elevated. The country remained elevated for a considerable time, and at this period v.olcanic activity commenced. Dunedin was the centre of very lively volcanic action, stretching from Waikouaiti to Waihola. The Otago Harbour and many similar inlets wero formed at tho timo of' considerable elevation, and the channels cut by streams were invaded by tho sea. Within the last million years Now Zealand, and particularly Otago, had been subject to extraordinary ups and downs and changes of climate. Tho movements referred to were not, of course, sufficiently rapid to be noticeable in tho lifetime of a man, but thoy left their mark in tho river valleys and at tho coast line. Referring to the controversial subject of tho glacial period, ho said that the effect of tho glaciers was engraved on the surface of Otago in many ways, as, for instance, in the rock-basin lakes of "Otago and the glaoial river valleys. It was possiblo that a great thrust movement tending to olovato our mountain ranges was still in progress, but if it wero wo should expect to have moro frequent earth-tremors and earthquakes. He gavo tho reasons why he had concluded that tho Blue Spur and Taieri " moraine," as it .was called, was not really of glacial origin at all, and in this opinion ho had been supported during t.h-3 past summer by two eminent visiting geologists. Ho was inclined now to restrict tho portion of Otago that had been affected by glacial action moro than ever. At tho close Dr Marshall replied to several questions put by members of the audience.