OUT OF THE DEPTHS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22515, 24 September 1938, Page 23

OUT OF THE DEPTHS

Giant Spring and Oaves In Takaka Area

(Specially Written' for “The Press.” By C.W H.K.)

CLAIMED to be the largest coldwater springs in the world, the Pupu springs, only a few miles out of the township of Takaka, are easily the most remarkable physical feature of a remarkably interesting corner of New Zealand. Bubbling up strongly from a deep, black rent in the surface of the earth, at a rate of 20,000 gallons a minute, these springs fill a crystal-clear basin of water of great depth—a lake five chains by three, from which a small river flows a short distance before joining the Takaka river on its mile or so run to the sea. ’ The official geological report gives the spring—there appears to be only the one spring—the name of Bubu. Locally the name is Pupu and that is the name the sign-boards give too. The short river from the spring to the Takaka is the Spring .river, and it has a sufficient volume of pure, highly drinkable water to serve every homo in. Christchurch. In fact, more than once the spring has been thought of as a likely supply for water for the Takaka township, and even now there are reports that if the Government proceeds with its Onekaka iron and steel project and a big town springs up on the site, the Pupu water will be piped a few miles to the town and used there. At the moment, however, it is merely a highly interesting physical phenomenon, so interesting that the local authority has built a splendid track intb it and sightseers motor nearly to the springs, have a short walk in cool, attractive surroundings, and then climb a staging from which they can conjecture the volume of flow and the depth of the gloomy gap through which the water wells up so strongly; It is said that although attempts have been made to fathom this hole, they have never succeeded. Certainly it looks from

the staging as though the vent runs deep into ■ the darkest recesses*.of the earth. Even .more interesting than these conjectures about depth are the theories advanced for the source of this great wealth of dear water. The strength of its rise shows that the parent Volume must be mighty. Most significant,is the well authenticated claim that the volume of the spring never changes, in winter or summer, or in the heaviest rain. The‘ only reference to source in the geological report is mention of the possibility that'.the water comes from the Takaka river, which disappears underground (in easy stages) some miles up the Takaka Valley, after flowing strongly out of the Takaka gorge on to the small plain. But some -geologists point out that the run of-the geological structure and of -the valley plain would take the water in a different direction, Then it is asserted that the water comes from the Boulder Lake, a fair-sized glacial lake high up In the mountains behind Takaka Valley, in country showing signs of what is probably the most recent -of the glacial ages of the past. Only glaciers could have gouged out the basin of Boulder Lake and so heavily scoured the surrounding country. But even more interesting and intriguing for the layman is the suggestion that the water from the springs is the accumulated drainage of a vast system of underground channels connecting the huge sinkholes that are such an outstanding physical characteristic of all this country. These sinkholes—like small sunken craters—have, for the most of them at any rate, no Visible outlet for the considerable drainage they take off the hillsides and small plains. _ They must send their drainage somewhere and obviously into the earth. They themselves have been caused by the subsidence of caverns which infest such limestone country. There are many known subterranean caves and passages in the district. Many of them are exceedingly wet and run water perpetually. It is thought that these drain their accumulated water into a system of subterranean ducts which pour the lot out through the vent of the Pupu springs. Nearer Motueka than: -these springs, all round the highest parts of the Takaka hill, where extensive deposits of marble and . limestone exist, it is Said that there are great cave systems which could be explored for days without their full extent being traversed. ■ They run from these sinkholes, which are even more numerous there, through broken country carrying thousands of tons of fine marble. No comprehensive survey has been made of these caves, it is stated, although men have been let down into them With ropes and made tentative explorations. But already they are well enough known and have been loAg enough known to have become the centre of interesting legends. What their full exploration would reveal ought to be a bait enticing enough for adventurous souls oa holiday in the area.