RURAL RAMBLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 25 May 1888, Page 10

RURAL RAMBLES.

THE HORSE RANGE. ' Kent Rocks— Sad Association— Curious Caye — Blub Mountain. On no part of the whole line of road from the Waitaki to Invercargill can such a display of the immense, natural forces which have in remote ages been at work be seen as on the saddle of the Horse Range over which the road passes. Whether the confused masses of rock which lie tumbled together have been the results of a throw up or a throw down, or whether they have been deposited there, must be left to the determination or speculation of more learned men than I profess to be. The fact remains that there they are in all sizes and shapes — some securely settled on firm bases, others poised in dangerous-looking positions, giving the idea that a blast of wind or the effort of scrambling over or among them would soon overturn them and lay them prone among their fellows below. This spot is rather a peculiar feature in the range, and is quite distinct from all the surroundings, for although I have traversed it from the beach a good distance inland I have not met with such another demonstration. There are "many higher peaks on whose almost precipitous sides the work of destruction is plainly visible, largo masses of rock here and there jutting out in every conceivable Bbape laid bare by elemental strifes, but nowhere has the work of desolation been more general or complete. A SAD ASSOCIATION will always be connected with this particular part of the road, for it was at this point that the accident happened to the mail coach about the last dayfa of its running, when several valuable lives were lost, one of which was that of a well-known Dunedin merchant. As the line of railway runs much nearer the coast, few of the travellers nowadays have the opportunity of seeing this wonderful locality. Some, however, who have heard of its fame pay it a visit, and express themselves as amply rewarded for their trouble. The botanist, too, will have the satisfaction of obtaining some rarities, especially among the Celmisias, which are not so easily procured elsewhere. Why this mountain chain obtained the name of " Horse Range " I wot not, bub some time or other may obtain the information. Being near the sea board it was early taken up for pastoral purposes, for which alone it is adapted, and like all the other ranges it has its particular ridge by which it is comparatively easily traversed. Having failed to hit the track from the point entered, my journey was toilsome and tedious ; by perseverance, however, it was accomplished. The object aimed at was to explore A. WONDERFUL CAVE known to exist some miles inland, of which little has been hitherto known. True it is that a very extraordinary route was adopted to reach the spot, but as the itching for exploration was somewhat strong, it was fondly hoped that perhaps "a find" might be dropped on which would compensate for the additional labour. Disappointment resulted in this case as it has in many others, but there was no need to grumble, for the cavern afforded sufficient scope for wonder and admiration. Had I been left to my own resouroes considerable delay would have occurred before the exact whereabouts of this remarkable work of Nature was discovered, but it was otherwise ordered, and it came about in this wise. Ascending a slight eminence for the purpose of taking the bearings of my position, the declination of the sun gave timely warning that unless it was intended to pass the night unprotected under the open canopy the sooner tracks were made for a night asylum the better. The resolve was at once formed and acted on, and on rounding an angle a short way forward the social cravings of the inner man : were suddenly and unexpectedly stirred by the sight of a " brither man" wandering in this hermitage., Soon my coo-e-e reverberated among the hills, attracting his attention, and in due course a mutual explanation ensued resulting in a kind offer to lead me to the farmhouse at which he was engaged, where a solid meal and a comfortable bunk in the barn alongside himself would be a certainty. No sooner said than done ; so homeward bound was now the course, and in less than two hours a kind reception was experienced. Next morning was Sunday, a day which my friend Chris had at his disposal, and which on the preceding evening he had offered to devote to my assistance in the search for the unknown spot. A better companion than he proved could not be desired. A Norwegian by birth, a. sailor by trade, learned by experience in a great many of the ways of the world acquired in different regions of the globe, and which had been filtered through sharp intelligence, his remarks were quaint, interesting, and instructive, and our short time of association was ended with mutual regret. However, to " return to our muttons." A few hours' search revealed the object of our mission situated near the base of one of the highest peaks, at an altitude of at leabt some hundreds of feet above sea level, and flanked on oue side by a rather extensive plateau. The entrance is well enclosed with native bush of different descriptions, which has grown on this particular spot 'through some natural arrangement, as no other trees are to be seen in the vicinity. As might, be expected, a lot of debris surrounded the approach, and in fact the whole floor of the cavern is a confused heap of rubbish which has in time fallen from the roof, and rendered locomotion rather difficult. The entrance is about as wide as the cave itself, from 50ft to 60ft, while the height is somewhere about 20ft. The distance to which it reaches inward is over 200 ft, and here and there, along the sides, what had in former times been drives on a downward slope are plainly discernible, although now the holes themselves are nearly filled up to their mouths. There is nothing worthy of notice in the large compartment of this subterranean abode beyond its great size and the disorder in which the latest tenants have left the floor, and their abrasure's of the walls and roof, as if bent on leaving the place untenantable for the future. The attraction of the cave, however, lies in one of the recesses on the right-hand side from the entrance. One or two good caudles or a torch are needed to gain a safe access here and see the curiosities it contains. The shape is too irregular to bear description. In addition to the first floor chambers there are others up above, but as the staircase had been broken down and we had no ladder the peculiarities thereof cannot be sot forth. Chris made some venturous efforts to scale the walls, but unsuccessfully. That the formation of the hill in which the cave is situated is limestone plainly appears from the btalagmitic adornment displayed on the sides of this remarkable chamber. This is laid out with a great regard to accuracy and arrangement. The carvings in many instances are very grotesque and beautiful, and few sculptors could act on such a large scale with equal mathematical precision provided they had no instruments. For what reason the internal genii who inhabit this secluded retreat have acted differently from their neighbours in towns and cities by forming the reclining walls and

sides of their house before the roof may be easily guessed at ; but this portion being nearly completed, the stalactitic cones from the roof have been fairly started, and some of them have attained the length of several inches, judging from the gloomy distance at which we stood. With sacrilegious hands the attempt was made to break off a portion of the carved work for exhibition and preservation ; happily, however, the means of so doing at disposal were quite inadequate for the purpose. To all and sundry taking an interest in Nature's handiworks I would commend a journey to this enchanted memoir. It speaks of the past, impresses the present, and forecasts the future. There are sermons hi stones, Let them read them who can. The easiest way to reach this den without a name is to take the Dunback train, coming out at Inch Valley station, and, making up the road for THE BLUB MOUNTAIN, inquire at the first house, Mr Bendall's, and the route will be pointed out. Everyone round about has heard of the cave, but few have visited it, so that only general directions will be given, but the inquisitive will find their way even on such lines. The name " Blue Mountain M must not be confounded with the range of the same name away to the south, and to which the famous unprofitable rush was made in 1862. This particular Blue Mountain stands a peak by itself, and has been considered so indicative in its character as to have one of the county ridings made prominent by its cognomen. It is a rugged, broken mount near its summit, and up to its highest point giving the idea, as Burns expresses it — Like ruins pendent in the air ; but agriculturally or even from a pastoral point of view it is not of great account. I. M. I.