THE WAITOMO CAVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 10

THE WAITOMO CAVES.

PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENTS.

ADDITIONS: TO HOSTEL*

! SITE READY FOR BUILDING,:

SUCCESS OF LIGHTING SYSTEM.

[BY TELtOKAPH. — OWK CORRESPONDENT.] , ; IIAMILTON, Saturday. I Wonderful improvements have been carried. at., the, Waitomo -Cavjas. apd. 'at the 'ho'stel stirronndings- during the- last year, and in "consequence-the value of tli€i property as a scenic , asset has greatly .in-., creased. ' »... ■. ..- The- hill.on the south-eastern of the hostel, has been .'cut away and some 20,000 yds.' of earth and- limestone,, have been removed -in preparation of the siteof i : the 'hostel. : additions; > ' .Tenders for these buildings - are expected >to .bei?'called; this, month.-, .It :s understood that the; delay in "starting the construction work has> beeii-dufe to 1 laVikof money, ■;• r r • v | The 'site is ..now feadyn,.' Four, acfes of flat land have be fen- prepared,. ' carriageways- have ! been and some 2000 cubic.-' yards, of - stone'. • have' ■ been broken into 6pawlsi and are available for the buildings if r< Quired. The excava-. tions involved the removal of a hill of limestone rock containing -not less thap, 15,000 cubio yards of material. All the old outbuildings at the rear of the hostel have been, removed to more convenient;: positions;- 1 New quarters ; fdr r-.the staff have been built and a site'has been'prepared for; a new lirandry which is to be put in hand shortly. ' The 'excavation'"'and;- filling .' work has necessitated the ■ removal-of ■> the .hostel garden I ftnd thei rei iKrarigihg ofi the* water supply - and sewersige. ■ < -A substantiallybuilt, wall of rqck, with a castellated, finisli, supports and jrnaments'the area on the western side of the hostel,, while steps with ornamental gates give access to the Caves '' Road. . Th e, hostel _ ground's apd the roads of the Waitomo settlement have been electrically lighted, and, at,'night,.present 4 a most picturesque,.scene: | < New Bridges and f'Duck-WalWl y.-

■About £6OOO hat been 'spent in the vicinity of the host;! during the last year.,

From the visitors' poirifc of view the work done'at the caves-is '.the' infest iirter : est'ing. : New bridges'have been throWn; across the ilpproaching t the' caves 4nd' an I elaborate system -of substantial , ''duck-walks," 'consisting 'bf Sra. "-by:'liirL slats firmly nailed ! fo '4in.> by 2in. scant-, lings, has been' laid throughout the cave's. In v plice of ladders i, solid ; concrete steps and heavy wooden stair ways'have ' been built, while at "of special; interest railed platforms - - have been erected.- ' Visitors can 1 inspect' all ' the cave's arid' eve'ry .-'pirt 1 ; of them -with the- • utmost convenience: and : comfort; • It- is • riot now necessary; - even' in' midwinter, to don overalls and heavy special boots on entering, for everj part can be visited without fear of foctwear and clothes becoming wet or soil fed. Another feature that has been introduced is the galvanised iron piping and wire-nettiag*that'protect' th© ;exhibitsy AIT' t'- reach.-, of, :P|opl>| . walking alorig tho 'i jrtificial .paths\aro. . surrounded in this. is not interfered-.with- ' v-' - ,X-i'-;!y£\v-? '< Experiments ; 'With Lighting, Of the' hew 'work • the' mosij important:' - is 'the 'lighting syslem-'that hasrb'een.'. stalled, .In each c'siv.e there; are<2oo^lights. . of varying candlepower;' ranging, from thg": ordinary corridor 'lights' ,o'f; - from, 30 to: 200,-c.p." to.'the'gieat 'floodlights.'in vthe "bridal .chamber"' Edwar&sjCourt"- -of 2000 >each. The lightirig-": system* involved a tremendous. amount j.'ofi work, much' of which was experimental;, The. .Public Works, Department's electri.-' : cal - branch had n> precedent, to ' guide, them. They,, first-put in the .corridor lights .leading intq,; every; chamber >Joi ~the. caves. r-.The-- then marked' and various positions before they were fiied: The work is now' . finished.- .....

The'great - floodlights in the principal chambers enable the visitor to admire at his leisure the, maiy beautiful stalactite .a. manner far superior to the antiquated flash method provided by flares: and magnesium wire. ; Behind the ' 'blankets'•' and •. delicate crystal, 'features lights have been very carefully placed. Some curious shadow effects are also given by the oscillation of movable lights by the guide. Along the corridors the white glow is broken here and there with red and green lights. Coloured lights are also introduced to show off some of the'" features, such as the "cemetery," to better advantage. . ,

Praise from Visitors. The "duck-walks" and lighting system have added tremendously to the value of the" caves and' recent visitors state definitely that Waitomo is now equal if not superior to the famous caves of New South Wales. The only regret concerning Waitomo. at the present time ii; that the accommodation is so inadequate, and that at least a year must elapse before the contemplated additions will be available. The road from' Hamilton to Waitomo is now in excellent order, the long motor run through the Otorohanga County being particularly enjoyable. Repairs are required on the stretches between Te AwamutU- and 1 Kihikihi/and between Hangatiki >' ahd "Waitomo 'to place tho 50-mile highway in splendid' order.