It is iff,probable that the sinuosity ot the Wellington Fault scarp has been notably increased by localised back.wearing, North-east of the Wakatikei River the valiey-side scarp of the Hutt Valley is half a mile out of alignment with the Wellington Fault and it is possible that its position is determined by a splinter oren échelonfault, The long straight segment of the valley side south-west of the Wakatikei confluence has not necessarily been cut far back by the Hutt River, which more probably has merely retouched the youthful form of a fault scarp, perhaps removing soliflual debris that threatened to smother it, The view that the valley-side scarp is a young fault scarp is supported bv the asymmetric form of the valley.