Martinborough Caves.

Evening Star, Volume 8505, Issue 8505, 2 May 1891, Page 4

Martinborough Caves.

The country between Martinborough and White Rock, on the East Coast, has, until of recent date, been unexplored. Much of it is said to be of limestone 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, because they were afraid to fathom its mysteries lest they should come across the taniwha. 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 the hills, and were near the boundary of the Government Reserve one day when it came on to rain. They went for shelter into what appeared to be merely a hole in a rock, but once inside they found that the opening extended some distance. Mr Harris, having had his curiosity aroused, moved cautiously inwards. The passage widened, and he sounded his way by throwing boulders before him. He discovered a drop of about 10ft, 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 describes as a gallery of about a chain and a-half long, with another fall of 10ft or 12ft 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 which the light of day streamed sufficiently for him to see that a small stream of water was flowing over part of the floor. He was rather surprised to notice what appeared to be the footmarks of some animal unknown to him. The brothers now joined him with candles, and their surprise was changed to astonishment and rapture when they foun£ they were inside a beautiful cave containing two galleries, each about a chain and a-half long, averaging from sft to 12ft in width, and raised 10ft or 12ft from the bottom floor. A mass of crystals in stalactite form studded the roof, and hung in lengths from lin to 18in; and as the light fell upon them the whole gleamed like diamonds, and presented a picture of rare and exceeding beauty.—‘Standard.’