WAIOMOTO CAVES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2029, 5 April 1890, Page 1

WAIOMOTO CAVES.

A special correspondent of the Press Association, who is with the Governor and Party in the King Country, gives the following discription of the Waiomoto Caves:—Waiomoto is a saddle between two high ranges of hills, and at the foot runs the Waiomoto river. The entrance to the caves is made by a small stream, some 20 feet wide, flowing underground. The party were conveyed three or four at a time in a canoe through a cavernous entrance a distance of about 50 yards and landed in the first chamber. The caves are of limestone formation, and are most i remarkable in appearance, indeed as a sight they surpass the famous pink and white terraces of Rotorua. The interior of the cavern by which the entrance is gained is weird in the extreme, Immense stalactities of an earthen colour are hanging from the roof and projecting from the sides giving the chamber a most uncanny appearance. The fact that the caves remained so long undiscovered was due to the dread the Maoris bad of the entrance, which they believed was haunted by taniwhas. A stream flows always through the caves, which are somewhat intricate in their windings , traversing a distance of nearly half a mile. The whole of this is done on foot. The interior is beautiful beyond description. One of the largest

chambers, which is probably forty feet high, resembles the interior of a Gothic Cathedral with a vaulted ceiling carved out beautifully as if it had been done by tbe chisel of the mason. Immense columns and pillars of limestone deposit rise to the ceiling; beyond this is the glow-worm-chamber, so called, because the roof is illumined* by millions of glow-worms which glisten like countless gems. Another chamber is called the native land court, from the fact that the stalactites form figures corresponding in detail with the occupants of a court of justice. Ascending by means of ladder’s other chambers were reached, and in these the formations are of every conceivable form and wonderfully beautiful, dome resemble fleeces, others are like chiseled folds of pure and transparent marble; and others again possess the graceful lines of the loveliest statuary. Scarcely two formations are alike. Prom the roof depend an immense number of stalactites which might; he/ more graphically described as crystal pendants, some being for all the world like bundles of parsnips, and others being fully two feet long and no thicker than a pencil. The organ gallery contains a good imitation of an organ in pure marble, while in the next chamber may be seen a remarkable phenomenon. From the ceiling hangs what might he taken for the folds of a blanket, but what is really limestone formation. There is a beautiful imitation in armature of tbe white terraces, the surface of which is covered with a glistening white silicate. Another phenomenon is the formation of black terraces amongst a white crystallised foundation. Probably the loveliest spot of all was the fairy grotto, which might have; been hollowed out of pure white marble. Here again the stalactites assumed most fantastic shapes, and were charming in their loveliness. The party finally emerged on the side of a hill fifty feet above tbe spot where they entered. It was tbe general opinion that the Waiomoto caves will before.long.be.tbe.mostpopular resort for tourists, and certainly are now most attractive. The Governor and party proceeded along tbe railway line to see the recently constructed route to a viaduct; where an immense amount of money has been spent to avoid a descent of the line into a valley. Otorobanga was reached a little after dusk.