THE MOTUPIPI CAVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13780, 19 June 1908, Page 7

THE MOTUPIPI CAVE.

'MARVELLOUS BEAUTY,Tui-: new caver that was recently discovered at Motupipi, Nelson, is on an elevation of about 1000 ft," on the southern watershed of Dry River. The climb is a .stiff one for tho.se unaccustomed to lull work; but for the most part is in open country. The first sight that greets the visitor is a lowering precipice of limestone, about one and a-half chains long, and 30ffe to 40ft high, hung with stalactites varying in size from that of a needle to a man's body, the outer ones white and tiio inner ones shaded with many colours, some, of them being moss-covered. 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 lull in a, south-western direction, meeting at an angle of about 15 degrees. Between 10 and 11 a.m. the sun shines into the cave, 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 waterworn. In some places basins have formed, in which are found perfectly smooth round and oval white stones, varying in size from marbles to eggs; in others clear water. The huge, stalagmites take queer shapes— Egyptian mummies, native gods,' weddingcakes, 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 tho northward, and into a chamber 12ft wide by about Bft to 10ft high, continuing for about 40ft, the roof and sides hung with beautiful stalactites, the floor covered with stalagmites, and a limestone formation resembling coral. Here » rope becomes necessary to enable the visitor to descend a further 30ft, where another chamber continues foi 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 nii-tle to induce the Tourist Department to assist in making a foot-track to the new cave.