RANGITOTO CAVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14926, 26 February 1912, Page 8

RANGITOTO CAVES.

AN OFFICIAL VISIT.

INTERESTING FORMATION.

An official visit was paid to the recentlydifcoverod caves on Rangitoto Island by the members of the Devonport Domain Board (Mayor and members of Devonport Borough Council) on Saturday afternoon. The- Devonport Ferry Company placed the tug Lyttelton at the disposal of the Board, and by this means the members, officials, and interested frionds and wives and families to the number of about 50 were conveyed to the island. The visit made it clear that the attractiveness of Rangitoto as a show place and picnicking ground has been added to by tho discovery.

It is loss than a month ago since Mr. i Wilson, of Union-street, Auckland, discovered the first cave. Sir. Wilson has an intimate knowledge of native flora and Maori customs and history, particularly that of the West Coast, from Manukau Heads to Northern Wairoa. It was while on his rambles over the rough country to tho eastward of the beaten track on Rangitoto, in search of new specimens> that he came across the first opening in a large scrub-grown hole. He worked his way into the subterranean passage, and finding it grow Larger followed its course upwards, and eventually found an exit, up the steep sides of which he scrambled. On his return to town ho reported his find to the Devonport Council officials, and later, -when accompanied by Mr. E. Clayton, foreman of -rrorks for Devonport, two more caves were found, each larger than the first. Since then a fourth cave has been found by Mr. Clayton. Description of the Caves. The caves are similar in character. The entrance to each is by descent into a scrubfilled indentation in the rock. From these beautiful fern-lined grottos open out, one of them —the latest discovery— a lofty cool chamber fully 20ft square. From these the subterranean passages run into the solid bluestono rock, and continue on their courses in almost straight lines. The puzzling features of the drives is their regularity of construction or formation. A miner with a diamond drill would not be expected to make more even or betterformed passages. They average about 6ft wide, and are from 7ft to 10ft in height, the sides curving inwards from about twothirds the height, and thus by running to an apex forming a roof of tho approved tunnel type. There is in places signs of a slight encrustation of a limestone nature, but it is evident, as the passages are mostly dry and of solid bluestone, that they will, even if carefully preserved, attain no beauty. The length of the caves am 106 ft, 132 ft, 198 ft, and 220 ft. While tho caves are nothing out of the ordinary, they are interesting, and their origin caused much discussion among the members of the party. There were many theorists, but no geologist present. The underground tunnels are obviously not the work of man, even though the regularity of their formation natuir'Y suggests such a thought. The theory was advanced that they were, in the days of Rangitoto activity, steam passages, while another suggestion was made that the passages were cut by the molten lava as it overflowed Horn the crater. The' latter, idea found most favour, because each tunnel runs down the mountain side in a straight line. How to Reach the Caves. To visit the cave one needs to dress—for tho sake of economyin old clothes, and wear stout boots. On arrival at the Rangitoto jetty the main track to the summit should be followed to the upper reservoir, at which point the new track branches sharply to the right, due cast, and the visitor plunges into " The Glen." Hero the conditions of travelling are totally different to . that previously experienced, the hard scoria track devoid of shelter from the fierce rays of the sun giving place to a path of soft volcanic soil, carpeted with fallen leaves, which winds through cool bush, in which ferns and shrubs grow luxuriantly. A new picnicking ground has been formed in these delightful surroundings, the borough workmen having cleared the undergrowth, and erected a concrete fireplace. Tho portion of "The Glen " passed,through en route to the caves is over 200 yds in length, and then tho scoria is met with again. With commendable promptitude, borough workmen have made a rough tnck for a. distance of 10 chains to the mouth of the first cave, and for the short distances the caves are all in close proximity— tween the others. The scene from the rock ridge in which the caves were found is far-reaching and beautiful in the extreme. Auckland Harbour, with the city and Devonport, lie to tho right, the Hauraki Gulf opens out in front, with the Coromandel ranges to the lei l, and Brown's Island in the immediate foreground. An added touch of beauty, was given to this glorious view of lancl and water on Saturday afternoon when 11 of Auckland's finest yachts flying the burgee of the Royal New Zealand "Yacht Squadron raced past the island en route to a weekend resort. The distance from Rangitoto jetty to tho caves is about one mile and ahalf, and as tho tracks are of easy grade, and fairly smooth, the task is not bevond tho capabilities of the average walker. Notice-boards have been erected to guide visitors to the caves. The municipal party and tho gests enjoyed the scramble over and under the rocks, and after returning to the lower shelter-houses, afternoon tea was served, and greatly enjoyed by those present. On the return home the guests, on the proposal of Mr. C. P. Murdock, drank the health of the Mayor (Mr. Wm. Handley) and councillors of Devonport, the former responding. The health of the discoverer of the caves (Mr. Wilson) was also proposed.