PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 292, 29 August 1918, Page 7

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

LECTUR® ON "MOUNTAINS." A lecture on "Mountains" was do livered by Dr. C. A. Cotton, D.Sc., F.G.S., at a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society lust 112111;. Mr. George Hogben, C.M.G.i presided over a good attendance of members. The lecturer stated that erosion was extremely active on high-standing mountains, and hy means of very fine slides he proceeded to illustrate how tho action of water and ice had worn away mountains, and left standing high and scarred peaks. The mountain ranges of the present day were the result of an uplifting movement. Some rocks had been estimated to be a thousand million years old. It was not known how long was required for tho reduction of mountain ranges to plains, but evidence was accumulating that that required a ielativjly short period. From scientific observation it was thought that some mountains had gone through what was termed tho "second _ cycle of erosion." Even the Alps might be passing through the second cycle of erosion, although it was not very long, geologically speaking, sinco the folding of the rocks of the Alps took place. It was believed that the Southern Alps of New Zealand had gone through the second -j.vcle of erosion, and were not the same mountains as existed in the past.

At tho conclusion of the Incturu a hrief dißoußsion took i>laoc. Dr. Cotton answered several questions, mid was accorded a vote of thanka.