The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 71
Geological Report by Sir James Hector, F.R.G.S., Etc
Geological Report by Sir James Hector, F.R.G.S., Etc.
Sir,
— Wellington,4th September, 1893.
As directed by the Surveyor-General's letter of the [unclear: 1880] August, I recently visited Cheviot with the view of ascertaining [unclear: in] there is any value in a reported find of coal there.
I was kindly assisted by Mr. F. Stephenson Smith, District [unclear: Suveyor], and the other officers of the department, so that in a few [unclear: days] was enabled to obtain a fair knowledge of the geological structure [unclear: of] the eastern part of the district, comprising the Seaward Range and [unclear: the] Port Hills. I did not traverse the Western Hills or Lowry [unclear: Peat] but a large series of rock specimens carefully located on the map [unclear: we] obtained for me by Mr. Marchant, Chief Surveyor, so that I [unclear: have] also been able to fill in on the map approximately the areas [unclear: occupie] by the different formations in that part of the estate.
The general structure of the district is that of a trough-[unclear: shape] depression, the sides being formed of hills of from 1,000ft. [unclear: the] 1,700ft, above the sea-level, formed of the older framework [unclear: rock] of the country, and enclosing a variety of newer formations, [unclear: which] form rolling downs and rich bottoms. The axis of this trough [unclear: lie] north and south, and it extends from the Waiau to the Hurunui.
page break page 7The accompanying maps and sections will serve to illustrate the structure of the country, the following formations being present:—