REMARKABLE DISCOVERY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3794, 25 April 1891, Page 2

REMARKABLE DISCOVERY.

the martinbokough caves.

The country between Maryborough and White Bock on the East Coast has, until of recent date, been unexplored. Much of it is said to be of limes tone, formation, and ' pot-holes ' and caves are said to exist. The Maoris have knowledge of one cave which they say has never been explored ; at any rate not by themselves, | beoause they were afraid to fathom its my sterie3 Jest they should come across the taniwha. Since the country lias ' been burnt by those who have purchased it, those engaged in bushfalling I ard grass seed sowing have spoken" of the strange lormations and beautiful soenery everywhere abounding. In the neighborhood of Stoney Creek, and about fifteen miles from Martinborough, Messrs W. Harris and two brothers by the name of Dedmond have been sowing grass seed on tho hills and were near'the boundary of the Government Reserve one day whsn it came on to rain. They went for shelter into what appeared to be merely a hole in a rook, but, once inside they found that the opening . extended some distance. Mr Harris has supplied a few particulars of what took place and these will, we feel sure, bo interesting to the majority of our readers. Having his ouriosity aroused he moved cautiously inwards. The passage widened, and he sounded his way by throwing bouldere before him. He discovered a drop of about ten feet, and then he struck some matches and descended. With even this dim light he was surprised to see the walls and roof sparkle in all directions. He then called to his mates and requested them to bring a candle, as he had found something good. The extra light revealed still more of the beauty of the cave, and as the light was reflected by the crystals they thought they were in some enchanted region. After standing and gazing in admiration upon the scene around them.the exploration - was continued. Mr Harris found that he was standing upon what he desoribes as a gallery of about a chain and a half long, with another fill of ten or twelve feet below him, He found his way down, and on getting on the floor of the cave saw a long narrow crevice at the further end through whioh the light of day streamed sufficiently tor him to see that a small stream of water was flowing over part of tho floor. He was. rather surprised to notice what appeared to be the footmarks of some animal unknown to him. He was as surprised as Eobinson Crusoe when he found footmarks on the sand, and young Harrison, thinking the better part of valor was discretion, especially in that uncanny place, made traoks to the , gallery in quicker time than he descended. The brothers now joined him with candles and their surprise was changed to astonishment. and rapture when they found they wee inside a beautiful cpye, containing two galleries, each about a chain and a half long, averaging from five to twelve feet in width, and raised ten or twelve feet irom the bottom floor. A mass of crystals in stalactite" form Btudded the roof and hung in lengths from one to eighteen inches, and as the light fell upon them the . whole gleamed like diamonds and presented a picture of rare and exceeding beauty., —Standard.