THE MOTUPIPI CAVE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 149, 25 June 1908, Page 7

THE MOTUPIPI CAVE.

MARVELLOUS BEAUTY

i 'The new cave that was recently disi covered at Motupipi, Nelson, is on an ! elevation of about 1000 ft.,., on the soutnern watershed of Dry River. The , climb is a stiff one for those uhaccusj tomed to hill work ; but for the most part is in open country. The first ■ sight that greets the visitor is 'a 1 towering precipice of limestone, about 1 one and a-half chains long, and 30ft to 40ft high, hung with stalactites varying in size from that of a needle to a man's body, the outer ones white and the, inner ones shaded with many colours,\ some of them being mosscovered. The mouth of the cave is a huge open chamber over 100 ft long, by 40ft to 60ft deep, the ceiling and floor dipping into the hill in a south-western-direction, meeting at an angle of about 15 degrees. Between 10 and 11 a.m. the sunshines into the cayey imparting beautiful colourings to the already magnificent stalactites. The floor of this chamber is composed of 'huge solid blocks of gray limestone, which have the appearance of being water-"worn. In some places basins have formed, in which are found perfectly smooth round and o,val white stones, varying in size f-ronji marbles to eggs; in others clear water. •? The huge " stalagmites take queer shapes—Egyptian mummies, native gods, wedding cakes, in fact, anything the visitor chooses to imagine. The footing is good, and one feels perfectly safe descending the steep incline. On reaching the bottom acetylene lamps become necessary, the cave taking a turn to the northwards, ftnd narrowing into a chamber 12ft, wjde by about 3ft to 10ft high, continuing for about 40ft, the roof and sides hung with beautiful stalactites, the floor covered with stalagmites, and aj limestone formation resembling coraj. Here a rope becomes necessary to enable%*he visitor to descend a further 30ft, where another chamber continues for nearly two chains, resembling the one just left above in many respects; but it is here the finest formation is seen." Visitors.cannot move in this chamber without destroying some of the coral formation with which the floor of the cave is covered. It is understood that an effort will be made tb induce the Tourist Department to assist in making a foot-track to the new cave.