PETRIFIED FORESTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 4

PETRIFIED FORESTS.

American scientists in 'the ,; • ;•'.' dominion;--• . / . (By. Teleurapli.-Speclal Correspondent.! Chrlstcliurch, February 10. ;; The two young ■ American, scientists, Mesrs. Sinnot 'and Eames, who are' making an investigation'into the fossil plants of New "Zealand," returned to Christchurch' last evening, after spending a few, weeks in the south. They told a "Press", reporter thatthey had had a pleasant time and that the result of their southern tour had amply repaid the time spent on-it. The visitors stated that they spent some littlo timo at .the fossil forest at Waikawa, in Southland, whoro they went particularly to see the petrified trees for which this locality is noted.'.'■ The : petrified forest is.at Curio Bay, and the young scientists found it a' most interesting place. .-'They worked for: some time in tho .vicinity of Invorcargillfinding splendid fields • for their investigations at Seaward Bush,'the Hokonui Hills, and in'the lignite pits,; which are so numerous in Southland, r While on their travels they, collected specimens of livirig plants, as'well as fossils, and their | "swags" were sometimes .very bulky and heavy. They have collected a lot of fossil material, including' specimens of the petrified wood which occurs 'in the Seaward.Bush, and at Curio.Bay. These fossils belong to a.very remote period, and tjjey will have to be, cut up. and scientifically examined before they can be,identified.,. They probably belong to some class'of pines. , Their collection also includes a number of petrified ferns from the Seaward Bush. This bush, it may bo stated, impressed tho visitors very much indeed. - It was veTy luxuriant and reminded them of tho North-Island bush.- The growth was very rich and rank; and] thoy'woro rather surprised to seo delicate ferns • there, which they did not expect to encounter so far south. One of tho most pleasant parts of their tour was tho visit' paid to Mount Cook; The vegetation there, was, of course, distinctly alpine, but they made a" representative collection of it. ' . . - - ■ Messrs. Sinnot and Eames will probably leavo for Wellington to-night. They intend to spend a few days a mow; tho mountains on' tho Main Trunk route, and then to go onto Rotorua. They leavo Auckland* for Sydney;.;on. February 27, and then will probably spend a couple of'months in.Australia before returning to America.- ;•