MOUNTAIN RANGES OF N.Z.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2072, 6 May 1907, Page 3

MOUNTAIN RANGES OF N.Z.

LECTURE BY DR. MARSHALL. There was a splendid attendance at the Gore Town Hall on April 2G, when Dr. Marshall, of Otago University, gave an interesting lecture on the “Mountain Ranges of New Zealand.” The Rev. G. Hervey, president of the Gore Young Men’s Society, under whose auspices the lecture was given, occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the lecturer.

Dr. Marshall, who was cordially received, said the subject he had chosen to speak on was one that was worthy of much thought and study. The town of Gore itself lay in a valley, at the base of a picturesque low mountain range, and wlieri it was compared with some of the majestic mountain ranges of the colony those present coukl form some idea of the grand field of study that lay before the student. It.was impossible to encompass is one lecture all that could be said about the mountains, glaciers, and moraines of New Zea-

land. Certain mountain ranges were of local or general interest, but of the three mountain ranges he would refer to in particular, one was in the /Worth Island, the other in the extreme south-west of Otago, and the third was the Southern Alps. The first one then was that range which the newspapers brought under their notice almost daily owing to volcanic activity. The second was where the /mountains rose up sheer from the Sounds and surrounding the Otago Lakes, where the snow, the glacier and the beautiful bush were reflected in the surface below, and where in the shady nooks and on the lovely beaches millions of sandflies roamed (laughter). The first,place lie would refer to was in the volcanic country, of which they had heard a good deal during the last week or two. He would illustrate his remarks by pictures of these fino mountains, and thus convey a faint idea of theii greatness. A picture of Ruapehu was then shown, also of Ngaruahoe, both of which are in a state of volcanic

activity, and the latter was represented as throwing up small stones, dust and steam to a height of 3000 feet. Last December the lecturer stood .on the crest of this crater, and 4 yoked down into it, and saw the steam rising. About six.-Jgeeks ago he again climbed the mountain- side, 1 which was one'-foot deep in slippery mud, which had* been thrown out by the forces'of Nature. As lie and lus party climbed up the mountain side, they could see_ nothing': blit they

could hear thcdiill- tluuls or moans of the volcano. It' ce'rtfcinly' was a novel experience to ho in.ii'shower ol mud. On llnapelnrthere was a small lake, about 300 yards across, of peagreen -water, which was frequently boiling hot. It was a most interesting site to sec such a lake surrounded by hill crests. The lecturer described the.. characteristics of volcanoes. These rocks at Ruapehu and Ngaruahoe were similar to those tore nll v erupted in other parts of. the world, except at Vesuvius. The mountains he had briefly referred to were the most interesting in the

North Island. A most interesting, but different class of mountain, were those running from Milford Sound inland. The Milford Sound mountains rising up almost perpendicularly out of the water were the most picturesque in New Zealand. The colour of the hush, the formation of the mountain, and tlio reflection of both on the surface of the water were most beautiful. Artists had tried to convey the beauty of it on canvas, but no brush could possibly depict the beauty of such places. The grandeur and sublimity were lost. Several pictures of the valleys and mountains between Te Anau and Milford were thrown on the screen. The lecturer proceeded to describe how many of tile valleys which, in several ranges of mountains ran almost in parcllol lines, were the result of glacier action. These huge mountains, being covered with' snow in former years, when probably the climatic conditions were severer, huge glaciers of ice formed and in time

i woro forced along, and great depressions would then lie made and the , valleys or gorges formed. A picture i of a recently discovered lake was ; shown. This lake was in a valley in which, the lecturer thought, a track could he made to Milford that would bo much easier than McKinnon's track to Milford. The lecturer took his audience to Alt. Cook. The features of tho Tasman (.18J- miles long), tho Hooker (7J miles), and Miicl'er glaciers woro shown and described. The lecturer explained how the glacier was formed by the continuous accumulation of avalanches of ice and snow from tlio mountain side, in the valley below until it reached that part of tlio country where the .rays of the still and the heat of the earth caused a molting process to set in, and then the river commenced. These throe glaciers had advanced or moved along considerably during the past two years. The Tasman glacier, it was discovered, moved about 300 feet per year, and tho San Josef glacier on tho west side of tho rango moved half a mile per year. Mount Cook was not on the main range or main divide, but on a spur just from tlio main divide. The glaciers

anil mountains on the west side of ranop worn morn beautiful and stimulating to tlio traveller tlinn those on <lio cast. Tlio lecturer showed a series of pictures of all the principal mountains rising from either side of the 1R miles of 'the Tasman glacier, and described in graceful language the peculiarities of the rock, the height of the mountain, the difficulties and dangers in climbing the same, and the authorised routes. There were, he said, layers of rock in Mount Cook similar to those in the Hokonuis. These layers found on

the Hokonuis were at one time sediment in the bottom of tho sea, and by tho forces of nature or other force which they did not as yet quite understand, were cast up

from the sea. Tho most beautiful eights in glacier land were to be found ill the steep precipitous bill sides covered with hush and luxurious growth on either side of the glacier valleys. In many of the glacier valleys, the ice was really in pinnacles up to 200 and 300 feet high and was most difficult and dangerous for the traveller to cross, because no one knew the moment when the top of one would tumble over. In

mountain climbing it was never safe to cross the face of a glacier or ice slopo during tho middle of the day. ft was safer to do so in the early

morning or evening, before the action of tile, sun bad any effect on tlio ice fields. In conclusion the lecturer

mined tip the beauties and interest-

ing features of the three classes of mountains—the volcanic,tho picturesque. and the glacier—to bo found in Now Zealand, and expressed bis pleasure at the rapt attention given to Iris remarks. (Applause.)