NEW CAVE SYSTEM.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 77, 14 March 1913, Page 2

NEW CAVE SYSTEM.

UNDERGROUND STREAM.

EXTENSIVE PASSAGES.

Auckland, March 11

The existence of wonderful caves in various parts of the Te Kuiti district has been known to Europeans for many years, and from time to time the claim is made of the discovery of a yave system rivalling that of the famous Waitomo. The most noteworthy known to the present generation th‘d!t|f through which the Mangapu stream flows. After it leaves the'surface in th<> Arapai district the stream runs underground for a distance of about four miles before emerging into davlight in the Opoirire Valley, apd its subterranean passage is through caves which for • size and grandeur are unrivalled,in the district. Some years ago a party composed of Messrs Pane, Lorigan, Thornton, and others essayed an exploration oi' the caves, but owing to insufficient equipment was not able to penetate very far. Sufficient was seen, however, to indicate that veryfine sights were to be witnessed and that a thorough exploration of tho edves was well worth attempting. On Tuesday, March 4th. a party from Te Kuiti, consisting of Alessrs. 11. Rothery and P. Mora, accompanied by Alessrs. Lambic anol Forsyth, visitors from Taranaki, proceeded to the place whore the river enters tho ground prepared to explore the mysteries of the caverns For a few hours they followed the course of the stream, which run's swiftly the whole wfray, hut were forced to retrace their steps in order to emerge before darkness set in. Some huge caverns werF discovered, the roof in some cases seeming to be at, least ll)l)ft above the floor. Far above in the distance could be discerned the luminous glow worm*, But th'- circle cf light from the candles carried by tho explorers was scon lost in the darkness surround ing them. In places the going was very sough, and once er twice the explorers were forced io swim where miniature lakes had been formed by huge boulders which had evidently fallen from the roof into the bed ofthe stream. Grotesque ami wonderfid formations were come across in r-eim- cf (lie ran s. Hie : .taiactite and stalagmite formations being on a larger and more imposing scalcdhau any to lie seen nt Waitmnu. The party kept religiously to the bed of i lie main stream, blit there were iiumcrous tributary streams from both sides flowing into the main Lt .!y. :-oii( th- ic is ('very indienlicii that a. very extensive ca\c system Ypn>! from the caverns through which the main stream flows, time did not permit of ahy <!: '. mtion from the main channel except on the backward journey, when, seeing a glimmer of daylight above, Alessrs. Laiiihie and Forsyth clambered out ami discovered a sloping tunnel, tq> which ii was possible to climb to the surface. This opening i< about, a mile from the place where the stream enters the ground, ami by using this entrance future e?.ploring parties can save considerable time. The distance from Te Kuiti to tho < n.lram e of the eaves is about seven miles Ip the Arapae road.