III.—Geology.

Art. XXI.—The Geological History of New Zealand. By Captain F. W. Hutton, F. R. S. [Read before the Otago Institute, 10th October, 1899.] If I were to ask you the question, “Why does every civilised Government establish a geological survey?” I expect you would answer, “To develope the mineral resources of the country.” This no doubt is true, but I wish to point out that any geological survey which makes the discovery of economic minerals its primary object is sure to be a failure. That is, if its attention is directed to special details, it can never ascertain the true geological structure of the whole country; while it is necessary to know the geological structure and history of a large district before a satisfactory opinion can be given on the mineral capabilities of any particular locality. But the geological history of a large district cannot be learnt without extending the survey through the whole of it, and into parts of the country in which there are no minerals, for one part of the history will be learnt in one place, and another part in another place; so that it is only by an extended and systematic survey that the whole history can be put together. And I repeat that until the geological history of a district is known the opinion of a trained geologist on its economic resources can be of no more value than that of any experienced miner. It follows, therefore, that the primary and fundamental object of a geological survey is to make a systematic investigation into the structure and palæontology of the whole country in sufficient detail for its geological, history to be ascertained with considerable accuracy. The contrary system, of examining local mineral deposits first, is very much, like marking out allotments and sections for sale on a map without having previously connected them by triangulation, in which case we all know the result will be confusion. It is the same with a geological survey; and we must remember that of the two parts into which it is divided—the general survey and the subsequent examination of special districts—the first is beyond private enterprise, because no individual has the time, the means, and the inclination to make a systematic investigation