KARAMEA CAVES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 11, 6 February 1909, Page 3

KARAMEA CAVES.

PAUTICI'LAIiS OF THE KIND. January 12th will be a nieiuoruMo *Uiy to those adventurous spirits in Karamea who took part in the excursion organised lo inspect the caves discovered in the Oparara district hv Mr John Johnsun and Mr Crabhe (says the Westport Times). The caves are situated about lour miles from Karamea townshipand arc approached along what is known as I'Vnian track a name going back to (he digging days of forty years ago. The caves are particularly easy of access, being within a mile 01 the main track and their great natural beanty makes them well worth a visit. They are very numerous and extend ovev an area four half miles in. bread!h. The discoverers hadf miles in breadth. Ihe discoverers I havi explored eighteen of chem but j there are many more which have not as yet hud time to penetrate, Geologically the country consists of a cap of liiinfcvstone some tift:y l'eet in thickness overlying a granite bed, and it is through the action of Cavern v,xeck and its tributaries and these natural beauties have been formed. The cave visited by the excursion payty "was a superb spectacle. It was in aspect not unlike one might imagine ti mighty subterranean cathedral to be, being over eight chains in length and measuring half a chain from side to side. From the limestone vaults above hung stalactites of dazzling whiteness ami inlinite variety. Their size, beauty and magnificence could scarcely be surpassed. A corresponding number of equal:lv lovely stalagmites rose from the lioor of the cave. The remaining sevenI teen explored caves are declared by Undiscovered to be repurus n size and beauty of that visited by the party. • A very interesting feature of the outing was the discovery of the remains of a moa in the cave by .Mr Cilen Jones. There could be no question as to the nature of the lind, as the bird's beak was unearthed in a slate of good preservation, while numbers of the party secured leg bones, vertebrae and other parts as mementoes of the day. In one of the c-aves. situated towards the east of the. formation, the broken stalactites and stalagmites, etc., give evidence of human habitation. Probably this cave was discovered and the cree.k " worked'' in the Oparara gold rush of the early [ iKvx.

Uefore leaving tlie party christened the cave visited " Tile Ida/' after Mr Johnson's daughter, who was the iirst lady to e'ater it, iMr (Hen Jones obtained a. good photograph of the party at tlie cavo mouth. It is to he hoped tlmt the (Government will take stops to safeguard these natural beauties, which, according lo some of the party who have visited eaves m different parts of the world, are comparable, to anything they "have seen. A track could ho made to the caves' entrance at a trilling expenditure. «uid would \\'ell repay lis cost in the delights -whiHi the caves would afford to all who visited them.