GREAT EARTH MOVEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1923, Page 16

GREAT EARTH MOVEMENTS.

IN THE MOKAU DISTRICT. (By J. Drummond, F.L.S., in Auckland Herald.) A noticeable feature of the sea-front near the estuary of the Mokau River in the western part of the Auckland province - is a terrace from 80ft. to 150 ft. high. In the southern part of the district, the terrace usually is about 20 chains wide, and is backed by steep hillsides evidently carved from an ancient) sea-cliff. Dr. J. Henderson and Mr. M. Ongley, members of the Geological Survey ; express an opinion that the terrace was cut by waves, when the land there was about 100 ft. lower than at present. They believe that a small, grass-covered flat, 12ft. to 15ft. above the sea, in the Mokau township, fringes an old sea-cliff with caves and stacks. Stacks are masses of rock which have resisted erosion, and which remain standing beyond receding lines of cliffs. Rock terraces at higher levels show that the land was even lower than 100 ft. coastal shelf seems to indicate. Other evidence collected by those geologists shows that at another period the land was higher. “Towards tne close of Tertiary times,” they write, “it was higher than at present. Later it was greatly depressed. Elevation took place again, and continued intermittently until the ki’nd stood probably more than 200 ft. higher than, at present. It was depressed again to the level of the 100 ft. coastal terrace, but has been lifted since to the height at which it now stands. The 100 ft. coastal terrace was cut during a standstill, following on considerable depression.” The area recently surveyed geologically by Dr. Henderson ’ and Mr. Ongley was traversed partly by Dr. Ferdinand Ritter Von Hochstetter founder of New Zealand geology, 64 years ago. He came to New Zealand as geologist on the Austrian frigate Novara. He was born in Esslingen, Wvrtemburg, Germany, byt most of his work as a geologist was done under the Austrian Government. One «f his positions in Austria was scientific lecturer to Crown Prince Rudolph, who took his own life at the hunting lodge at Mayersling in 1889. Many valuable collections in Canterbury Museum were sent from Europe with Hochstetter’s help. Results of his New Zealand researches were published in Vienna in a work entitled “Neu Seels nd.” An English edition sells now for 30s! 5 Hochstetter’s name is perpetuated in the title of a New Zealand bird, the rare Notornis —Notornis hochstetteri — systematists having some 15 years agp submitted his for Dr. Mantels, and in Hochstetter Dome, near the head of the Tasman Glacier, in the Southern Alps. He went from Har.gatiki along the vallev of the Mangapn. After ascendin<' the divide between the Mangapn and the Mokau.basins, along a spur, he descended into the Mokau Valley. He crossed the basin of the Wanganui and reached a Maori village where tne Ongarulie township now stands. Modern geo'ogists have found that Hochstetter« observations on his journey, and on the physical features of the country, are lucid and precise, and, eVen when the names of. features have been lost or "hanged, readily can be followed. 11'" geological sketch map is correct m all essential points, and his description ot the geology of the district is the basis of all subsequent work. For many years after Hochstetter’s visit. . that area, which forms part of the King Country, was closed to "BuropeanS. until almost 20 years later, 1878. tha. another geologist. Sir James Hector penetrated to any part of the district. He traversed the Mokau River from its mouth to nractieally its source. Professor J. Park, of Diin.edin ei"lit years later examining the coasta. s-etioii from Waitara to Mokau and ascending. the Mokau River as far as the Wairere Falls.