AN AMERICAN INVESTIGATOR.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 10

AN AMERICAN INVESTIGATOR.

INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR DAVIS.

CENTRAL OTAGO VISITED,

Professor W. 31. Davis, professor of geology at the Harvard (U.S.A.) University and one of the most, noted physiographists of tho world,' who passed through Christchnrch about a ■week ago on his way to Otago, returned by the first express last night. On reaching Dunedin, ho was able, owing to the kindness of Professors Marshall and Park, of the Otago" University, and of Mr Cotton, ■α-ho journeyed from Wellington to join him, to see many features of Otago Peninsula. Hβ also made a three days' excursion to Central Otago, going as far as Queenstown, Lake "Wakatipu.

"The principal object of my last- | mentioned excursion," naid Professor Davis to a "Press" reporter last night, "was to sco some mountain ranges, previously described by Professor Park, and belonging to a peculiar genus of mountains known as 'block mountains.' Tbis genus was first recognised in the arid western portion of tho United States, but as far as I could *?oo the genus was better represented by the examples in Central Otago—not so much in the matter of as ni tho distinctness of their outlines. So that that excursion was well rewarded, al- ! though tho first day alternated between driving snow squalls—which obscured everything—and beautiful blue sky, which disclosed everything. Tho | second day we went by car from Crom- j well to Queeustown and spent most of the time on the journey ploughing ! through snow, which at somo points I was from eight to ten inches thick, but wo got through without mishap. The features of Lake AVakatipu were of interest to mc from their resombl-, ance to those of the Italian lakes on the southern slopes of the Alps, and to soreral lakes of tho Canadian Rockies, of which Lake Kootenay is tho most noted. The third day was spent chiefly on tho return journey to Dunedin. From ilmt city as a" centre I made, vriih Professor Marshall, excursions to see the extraordinary bays

which indent the Peninsula, my' objectbeing to compare them with* similar bays on tho volcanic, islands of the Fiji group." During the present week Christchurch is to be the centre of several excursions which Professor Davis intends arranging in consultation with Mr Speight, Curator of the Canterbury Museum. At the end of the week Professor Davis returns to Wellington, and on June oth ho leavos for Sydney, where, on the 10th, he joins a French steamer, which will take him to Nou- ! mea, Now Caledonia, whore the better 'part of a month will be spent in investigating the coral formations. Then a trip through the New Hebrides group will be made, and Professor Davis will return to Sydney at the end of July. The following month will be devoted to the meetings of the British Association in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. At the end of August Professor Davis returns to Auckland to take part in the supplementary meetings of the British Association to bo held, with tho support of the Government, in several cities in Xew Zenland. On September 11th Professor Davis leaves New Zealand for Tahiti, where he will spend a month going about that group. Then ho will take steamer to San Francisco and hopes to reach homo early in November, after an absenco of nine months. "And if nil goes as well as it bemn." said Profe&sor Davis in concluding, "it will deserve to be regarded as a very successful journey."