WAITOMO AND RUAKURI CAVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 2

WAITOMO AND RUAKURI CAVES.

t «-—— One of the wonders of tlic North Island from a scenic point of viow is tlio famous ® cavernous district of \Vaitomo, which is now B boing brought prominently before tho travel. . liiig public by the Government Tourist Do--3 partmonfc. As but little is generally known 3 of these caves, the following extracts from reports furnished to (lie department should 5 be of interest:— 3 The Wnitomo Caves are situated six miles s from Hangitiki Railway Station.' In theso 1 thero are eight grottoes or chambers of ; different dimensiohs, with diverse styles of. ; architecture and ornamentation, with stalaci tito and stalagmite of varied fantastic shapes , and sizes. Two lower levels arc situated in ) these caves, about 15ft and 30ft respectively : below entrance level. About 20 chains.from • tlio entrance tlio Wnitomo River flows > through tho cave, producing a most weird > effect, at the same time fchecking further i movement in that direction. One of the [ chambers is a lofty hallj studded- with 1 peculiar flat-shaped semi-transparent stalac- . .tites, like strips of blanket, which, when , struck with a hard substance, omit musical I sounds of different notes. The distance to i the farthest point reached in these caves is ! estilnated at 400. yards.' > The new, or Ruakniri, eaves are situated ; some two miles by road and track from tlio i Wnitomo Caves, or eight miles from Hanga- ; tiki Railway Station,and maybe designated • under the name of caves, grottoes, halls, : corridors, etc., of varying shape. Tlio real : wonderland of these crvcs is near .the plank i bridge ovef the Tumotumo River, which i flows through the eaves. One chamber iiefo ■ is thus'described:—"Stalactites innumei ruble, of pure white, from -|iit to 6in in , diameter, are pendent from the roof, tho i smallest reaching fully 3ft in length, tlioso of greater diameter being longer, and a few ! dark coffee-feoloutcd ones aiiiohgst th(! pure white can be peen. Tho effect under tlio , i magnesium liprht is indescribable 'in its i beauty." Again: "Another, the Wedding ■ Cake Chamber, so named from n very good representation of that luxun; being promi- • nently visible within it, together with freaks of Nature in the shape of lime deposits of all descriptions beyond the of ordi- ■ nary individuals to describe." Referring to ■ the other beautiful chambers the, report says: "Ono of them is quite up to anything : previously seen, but. Nature lias used a I different .mould in producing these gems. The .collection of sh'acM'fes alone, so cltFO together and of such delicate and fragile nature, and of such beautiful tints when illuminated by a stronsr light, with the scintillation of apparent!;' numerous diamonds throughout the collection, is a sight in itself." Tn one case the limestone formation takes the likeness of the stern-part of an ironclad, both iii'shape and colour, and is of considerable oxtijiit, aitd in some parts of the caves a very peouliarly-formed deposit, of a dark chocolate colour, of coralliko formation is to be seen ill marked contrast, to the pure white limestone surrounding it. Tho lengths of these caves are estimated as 700 yards to tlio farthest north-east direction and about 500 yards to the westward. It is generally believed that a larger system of cave-formatioii exists hero than lias yofc been discovered. At a distance of about 10 chains outside the entrance to these caves a very interesting sight is. a natural arch bridge, under which the Wnitomo River flows for a distance of aboflt'lOD yards;'and at about flvo chains from the entrance to each cave there is a small fall, also, rapids, on the stream. Contiguous to the caves there is some pretty bush, as well as a miniature lako surrounded by beautiful bush. There is a comfortable accommodationhouse clofe to the caves, which can be reached daily by train from- Auckland to Otorohanga and a drive of 10 miles from there.