THE TAKAKA CAVES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 11 March 1914, Page 5

THE TAKAKA CAVES

STATURE'S WONDERFUL WORK.

(Written for the Mail."

The attractions Nelson, offers, not only

to her own people, but also to tourists arm the outside world, are not known ' sufficiently when the merits of these attractions are taken into consideration. At every turn beauty spots meet the eye close to the city, others easy of act-ess by vehicle, or on foot by those -who delight in the road. Our innumerable picturesque drives are freely spoken of in glowing terms by visitors fortunate enough to have experienced the delight of'■ a motor run on one one of kelsons tvpical early spring or late autumn days On the one hand Nelson is clothed in her mantle of leafy green, and on the other vour eye is feasted with glorious autumnal tints, which meet the eve at every turn. Nelson is indeed richlv endowed with scenic grandeur, and *it only needs such a body as the Nelson Advancement Society to let outt siders know the charms our -district offers. . The main object of these lew notes, however, is to 'bring into prominence the wonders of the Takaka caves. During the course* of a few days recentlyspent in the pretty. Takaka Valley, the "writer was privileged to view this wonderful handiwork of Nature. A short drive from the township brings one to the foot of the hill, from which a track leads to the caves.- The walk to the caves I—easily 1 —easily done under the hour—is a charming one, giving pretty little glimpses of ocean and bush by the way. Our guide points out an historic spot oa Rangitea Point, the scene of a great Maori massacre by the Wairau tribe, •where the bones of victims __ ha-ve frequently been found in the vicinity. After wending our way, along the side of a rather steep" hill, with a deep gulch at ourteet, we strike into the bush, and a delightful quarter of an hour is spent among the trees and ferns before suddenly -we are brought face : to face with the cave mouth—a huge opening in the face of a precipitous cliff. While Guide Manson boils the billy, the party have an opportunity to admire the surrounding scenery—right in the heart of the bush' we were. There are ferns and

wild flowers and leafy trails of greenery clustering about the opening, and from overhead the sun shoots fitful silveryshadows from a cloudy sky. Guarding the entrance to the cave, -which .consists of three chambers, in all about 2310 feet in length, is a mammoth dragon, its head thrown forward as if defying man to enter. Standing outside the entrance, one feels something of the childish thrill of awe and expectation in ■which you stood in imagination with Ali Baba outside the cave of the Forty Thieves; But no magic password is needed:for.the open sesame. You simply follow the track, and almost immediately are gazing on a wonderful scene. The opening is 198 feet across, 330 .feet deep, 125 feet high, and about an acre in area. A -wonderful sight meets the eve. of fantastic shapes are formed bv the stalactites and the stalagmites. 'Here is "Mr. Punch" as plain as day; over there animals take definite shape;..hideous monsters of fairy tales' are seen —in fact; every fantastic shape: and' likeness the whimsical imagination can give uameto. Passing out of the j opening chamber we press forward to the dark beyond, and feel our way along a, narrow 'passage.- Then we descend several steps; and stand in a second chamber. Th e light of our lantern and : the flare of the guide's magnesium wire : reveal a scene of glorious da'zzlingness.; The walls and roofs are fringed with; snow-like stalactites, suggesting in the; shadowv dimness quaint ' fancies, : grotesque shapes, delicate shawls, blankets and rugs hanging in graceful folds, long slender, shapes as fine as needles, noble pillars, and . fretted ivory. And at our feet lies a huge wedding -cake, frosted and tiered as if waiting for the bride to cut it.' * Like columns of frozen snow hang slender transparent pillars, which give out the mellow chime of; church bells as the guide gently taps | them with a candle. The wise precaution has been taken to protect the delicate wonders of this chamber with a fence of wire netting. As the guide re- ; marked, this is necessary to prevent j sightseers from removing mementoes of ] their visit. We pass still further on, j the passage way narrowing as we pro- j ceed, but still studded with the dazzling glories of Nature. One is awed at the magnificence of it all. Here, in the -very bowels of the earth, Nature has designed with a delicate touch her handiwork. - Man, with all his skill, must bow in meek submission to the wondrous art of mother Nature. Through what period of time have these dazzling creations ibeen going. on, slowly but surely, through "hundreds of years, have these wondrous designs been taking definite shape—and that process is still going on—until to-day stands revealed the wonderful glories of the underground world;

Mr * Manson, with whom those desirous of visiting the caves, should communicate, states that visitors who have seen both the Takaka and Waitomo eves, declare that the Takaka ones, though not so extensive, are equal in beauty to the latter- Some idea of their magnificence can be obtained by a visit to the Council Chamber, in the hall of ■which are hung several photographs of the caves, taken by Mr Manson. The caves are well worth "a- visit, even if only for the drive across from Nelson.