Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-28
THE WAITOMO CAVES.
Description of Visit to Wonderful Me-
Zealand Cayerus.

Description of Visit to Wonderful New
Zealand Caverns.
In report TO the surveyor general of New
Zealand Mr. Thomas HUMPHREYS gives an in
teresting description of a visit which he and
small party made in June last TO the Wal
tomo caves. King Country. in the North Island
of New Zealand The Waitomo river, a
tributary of the Waipa, which passes through
these caves, hes about eighty miles south
of Auckland in direct hne, though is is
about twenty miles further by rail and road
The caves are about ten miles from Otoro-
hanga railway station. The country around
is undulating. A quarter of mile before
the 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 to within few chains Of its egreSs
where further progress is barred by the roof
coming down 10 the water.
At the entrance TO the cavern the stream IL
s feet deep. The natives have never had the
courage 10 enter. The entrance to the cave
30 feet wide and 20 feet high, is ~ the face Of
a cliff. 1t is beautifully arched, with numcr
Gus moss and ichen covered stalactites. In a
canoe the visitor is taken in, % feet from the
entrance and landed on a silt covered beach.
By the aid OF candIes-for ali IS now dark
he finds himself among ponderous s;alactites,
10 feet thick, reaching from the roof, u
feet high, TO within foot Of the ground.
Everywhere. ali over the extensive and intri-
cate caverns, are seen stalactites and stAlag
mites Of immense size, in vast numbers, with
marvellous boantv IF and fsrlar
one place the dark vault vas STUDDED with
thousands OF glowworms giving the vault
the appearance OF starlit sky
Passing down the left bank Of the stream
for 40 feet, over large deposit left by the
foods. the party crossed it By means 81
foot bridge From the entrance 10 the bridge
the cavern averages 30 feet broad and from
20 to 30 feet high After crossing the bridge
a sharp turn 10 the right is made up a steep
incline for distance Of 20 feet 10 the foot 81
a 10 foot ladder which leads 70 a narrow
passage feet wide and - feet high. the eu-
trance 10 the grand cavern Here Is the
bottom Of tho well q narrow shaft running
up 70 another series q caves over the lower
ores, whore IL Is again net with In the gsL-
lcry above. The well is feet across, per
fectly true, as il made by human hands. ard
its sides beautifully market with horizont tai
streaks, formed Of lsminGtod limestone. In
the grand cavern IS an Immense mound q
material evidently faDen from the root.
Beyond the grand cavern tie roof rIsas
and forms two doFnes, one 20 feet high High
Up, 10 feet. IS the eatrance to sr-other cavern
Beyond tne dome ls a sudden fail. the roof
lowering 80 much that To, visitor has To Eto0p
The length q the grand cavern 81 the cod
q which The stream = agAIR rc@t with. b 20
feet !; varies IN width from y 20 - feet
and from % % - feet IN height Up 20 this
point the color Is q dull brown and light
yellow; ou- in the uTper galleries. % feet
above. there are alGbaster 2Hd FzriaD-:zle- bic
Ike soeses II unsorpasse-l ioseliness.
Twenty feet above the grand gallery Is ta~
organ gs!leTy.H 50 csIsei from ne APPEAR
apce nf tee great EtalaZ7uli3c MRS 30 feet
from It, entrance. rEslng tler upon Ter. ilzs
tie front q 81 organ win rnArisie pines. From
the grand gallery toe main gallery sbovs l.
reacs~d ~ - foot isT5deF. and % feet sIoag
y tee vel il rsacee-d. Here Il II y feet -
diAlns.Sr. with sraoctb sdes q hard lire
stone. and the boznd q nn1rsnz -z:sr beLo~
Tais Is - feet above where i @zz fi-E- s1s1
Fifty fest s-oHE from 80 1pper wal - :
+'fairv .ro.co. and fnro1za a. sr-nvsv -
feet IN Ie-rtr f-e r -.re- r-s-l~sa~T