Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-02-17
THE wAIToMo CAVES.


Zealand Cavcrns-
In report to the surveyor general Of New
Zealand Mr. Thomas HUMPHREYS gives an in
teresting description Of a visit which he and
a small party made in June last to the Wni-
tono caves. King Country. in the North Island
of New Zealand. The Waitomo river, a
tributary Of tho Waipa, which passes through
these caves, lies about eighty-five miles south
OF Auckland in direct line, though it Is
about twenty miles further by rail and road
The caves are about ten miles from Otoro-
hanga railway station. Tho country around
is undulating A quarter of a mile before
tho caves are reached the Waitomo, Of about
twenty feet in width, is seen emerging from
the side Of hill, under which il has mean
dered through limestone caverns Of various
sizes for about twenty chains. A light canoe
can be taken along the river through the
caves 10 within a few chains OF its egress,
where further progress is barred by the roof
coming down to the water.
At the entrance 10 the cavern the stream Is
e6cet dcop The natives have never had the
courage TO enter. The entrance to the cave.
30 feet wide and 90 feet high, is IN the face Of
a clin. It is beautifully arched, with numer.
Gus moss and lichen covered stalnctites In a
canoe tho visitor is taken in, 90 feet from the
entrance, and landed on a silt covered beach.
By the aid Of candles-for all is now dark
be finds himself among ponderous stalactites,
90 o feet thick, reaching from the roof, ~
feet high, 10 within foot Of the ground.
Everywhere, all over the extensive and intri.
cate caverns, arc seen stalactites and stalag-
mites OF immense size, in vast numbers. with
marvellous beauty Of form and color. AZ
one place the dark vault was studded with
thousands Of glowworms, giving the vault
the appearance Of q starlt sky.
Passing down the left bank Of the stream
for $40 feet, over "A large deposit left by the
floods, the party crossed it by means Of a
foot bridge. From the entrance to the bridge
the cavern averages so feet broad and from
20 10 30 feet high. After crossing the bridge
a sharp turn 10 the right is made up a steer
incline for a distance of 20 feet to the foot OF
10 foot ladder, which leads 10 a narrow
passage feet wide and 10 feet high, the en-
trance 10 the grand cavern" Here is the
bottom of the 'well, p a narrow shaft running
up to another series Of caves over the lower
ones, where it is again met with in the gal
lery above. The well is 4 feet across, per.
fectly true, rs il made by human hands, and
its sides beautifully marked with horizontal
streaks, formed of laminated limestone. II
the grand cavern is an immense mound Of
material evidently fallen from the roof.
Beyond the grand cavern the roof rise
and forms two domes, one so feet high. High
up, 40 feet, is the entrance TO another cavern
Beyond the dome is a sudden fall, the root
lowering SO much that the visitor has to stoop
The length Of the grand cavern, at the END
Of which the stream is again met with, is 25l
feet. it varies in width from Is 10 40 feet
and from 90 to 80 feet in height Up 10 thii
point the color is dun brown and light
yellow; but in tho upper galleries, so feel
above, there are alabaster and Parian-marble
like scenes Of unsurpassed loveliness
Twenty feet above the grand gallery is the
"organ gallery SO called from the appear
ance Of the great stalagmitic mass 100 feet
from its entrance, rising tier upon tier, like
the front Of an organ with marble pipes From
the grand gallery the main gallery above j.
reached by a 25 foot ladder, and 60 feet along
Il the "welln is reached. Here it is u feet in
diameter, with smooth sides OF hard lime
stone, and the sound Of moving water below.
| This IS as feet above where il was first SEEN
Fifty feet along from the upper well is {
"fairy grotto,n and through an archway *
feet in length the banquet chamber i
reached, where the surveyor and his friend
found hot dinner had been provided b.
the natives who own the caves. At tho enl
Of this chamber is the White terrace, a stalag
mitic mass rising IN a series Of terraces. From
this the upper entrance 70 the caves
reached, high in a wooded cliff, 60 feet allow
and directly over the lower entrance. Mr.
HUMPHREYS describes in glowing terms othe
galleries and caves, but this may suffice 1
show that, notwithstanding the destruction
Of the Rotomahana terraces, New Iealan
has still plenty Of wonders.-Science.