Correspondence.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 207, 14 October 1859, Page 2

Correspondence.

Sm^—l regret that ray slight acquaintance .with the English language induced; nie. ;to use a .wordcorrectly expressjnghiy meaning* but which I am: informed should,' in-ordinary courtesy,"have been somewhat modified. . The expression " generally false" was intended by me merely to imply;" generally incorrect;''; -. ;■.,:; " Had I wished to anticipate Dr. Hochstetter's lecture, I could personally have communicated the result of "my expedition" to the Colonist, and not have left you to gather it fromthird persons, who, in | attempting to combine. detatched sentences, have fallen into yery absurd errors-—speaking rgeologically. '"".*^!.'*"*""■"" As examples of errors into, which yourinform-. ant has fallen, I.beg' to,givein.juxta-position some of the statements published in your paper, and what fell actually, from me conversationally.. Colonist. ■ ' . JSubstance of,my~Conversa-_ ' ' " ~ " '~.,',■; ; tio'nal Remarks. - "Whilst not holding v "These strata do not out any'inducement to offer any''indication of prospecters, it was thought gold-bearing quartz, i Tiut that the precious metal the more ancient' strata^ in would be discovered if the1 centre of the ' fold' searched for. .t, -. ~. may .possibly but not rjiro-.' bably contairt^pld bearing ... '-: ( . ~ .■- • ■ ; -■■ -reefs.- •;■■ :■ ;■• •■ '.',..•..■■:>)' "In Tayior|s Pass were (NVB. —Limestone is alfound some excellent spe- ways calcareous ; the terra cimens of calcareous lime- calcium signifying simply «tone, and sufficiently lime.) "On. the first abundant to be of value blush the rock appeared to for building purposes. .be. calcareous, but upon examination Ifounditto consist of a compound of quartz and feldspar, having no trace of calcareous matter in it. "The rock? were basalt, (N.B.—Basalt and tratrachite, and other pluto- chite areHotplutonic,,but nicformations. ~ volcanic' iwsks.)' '. • ~ -.^^ boulders in the bed. of the ■'•■:-..:■ -river Awatere indioat6 to a. :: certainty ;that .that river takes its rise in a volcanic : zone^" but I could scarcely ; h«y© added that "the ■~..•,';• r0!3)18 through the . r ... '.■'■...'.. Awatere". flows'-.in.!, jthe. ] ' . : ": country,"under my examijnation were of "volcanic .:.. , , r v -. or plutonic origin,", while- - I was extracting fossils from ■";•::'." ■them.'-- ;•? _ "Thus overturning the "An opinion which I theory, that thji Kaikoras origiriallyformedj that the were the parents of the present position of > the district and showing that rdeks throughout this dis^ the Wairau ahd.the'Wai- trict is dyerto-.the elevatohi were raised above the -tion of the Kaikoras relcivel of the sealong befor^i qutred; some modification,: some mighty eruption of Itv rappeam ."«tHat isohie ! nature has raised the Kai- mighty commlsion: oiKna-~; koras J to tower above the . ture occurred previously^ surrounding country;" tp.th? deposit of _theter-. ■ \ "/,. r- J^ry^rat^hesubsequent- .„ '" •".": ' j elevation of "the Kaikoras : ; haying-raised" the i latter" i ~ some 2000 feet, in proof : . of "which I called attention; to the raised terraces in ; - " : ■ the Awatere Valley. "J , The above is sufficient to show the generally incorrect statements made by your informant in reference to my expedition, and I will in conclusion merely observe, that, if such information,' as that which you have received, had. been sufficient, Dr. Hochstetter's lecture' would have "been renderedunnecessary, had you drawn more at large upon the evident geological knowledge and experience of some of the men who accompanied him during his journeys. Requesting that you will insert this letter in your next number, | - ' ' I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant-. JULIUS HAAST. , Nelson, 11th October, 1859. [We willingly insert the above, and allow the useles3ness of contending for a moment upon scientific points with our talented correspondent. But it was necessary to show that nothing more than inaccuracy should be maintained against the article referred to, as a .charge of falsehood implies an intended mistake; besides which, we conceive from the above letter, that it is far more necessary to take into .consideration the "possibly superficialknowledge of our informant on geological matters^ than to make allowance for wliat our correspondent calls _.a"" alight" acquaintance with "the English language.— Ed, Colonist,]