WAITOMO IN MINIATURE

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1932, Page 7

WAITOMO IN MINIATURE

DISCOVERY IN A TUNNSL AMONG TH® GLOW WORMS. BRILLIANT ELTHAM CAVERNS That brilliant glow-worm caverns— Waitomo in miniature—exist within, the borough of Eltham is entirely unsuspected by most of the residents. A party of about 50 Recently made an inspection and were greatly impressed with the spectacle that met their gaze. The glow-worms exist in a water race tunnel running from the bacon factory to . the Eltham Dairy Company’s: butter factory. The tunnel is about, ten chains long, and for practically the entire distance it ie studded with myriads of bright blue torches which give the effect ’ of a fairyland bower or a brilliant starry E hy- , On Wednesday evening a large party accepted the invitation of Mr. C. H. ; White, chairman of the Eltham Dairy Company, to make- an inspection*of/this novel eight. The members of the party were strongly advised to come welLprepared and preferably to wear bathing suits, as the conditions were very' wet. It was in various garb, therefore, that the party, women and men, reached the lower entrance to the tunnel. Some donned bathing -suits complete; others put on gum boots; many wore stout overcoats, but all were prepared for the worst, determined-to see\the marvellous glow worms of which they had heard such favourable accounts. Arriving in several ears the in the moonlight were not unlike a company of midnight bathing reveler*.-Fully prepared and with great expectancy they quickly descended a 7ft. ladder into the bed of the tunnel, stepping into water up to their knees. The leader pursued his way into the narrow concrete tun- « nel, followed -by the. eager crowd, who immediately encountered a wondrous sight. _ . , For several chains ahead th® bright blue epecks shone" brilliantly. The cavern enlarged and the glow became more intense,.resembliiig a soft light from above shining through small lattice-work. After some distance the tunnel converged' into a- smaller concrete channel about four feet high, and through this for some chains the party had to stoopingly wend their way, the water being thigh deep. • ' It was her* that the bathing suits showed superiority over the gum boots, as the, water overflowed the top® of the boots. Farther'on concrete cross-arms about three feet from the floor and about \ two yards apart caused a bobbing contest among the party, but undaunted by this all proceeded right through to : the other end,- reaching the outside world at the intake weir.

‘ About half-way through, sosneone suggested that it would be very unpleasant if someone lifted, the sluice gates, and there -were visions of the whole party being caught dike rats in a i'' Ta 'P- . ;•.■ .i- . : '.xv It .was an eerie procession that witn the aid of torches slowly made its way .through.the caverns bf violet blue, every now and then the torches being subdued’ so as >to reveal to the full we power -of the little worms.

On an examination by torch, light it was found that each vorjn was a thin, jelly-like creature about 1| to 2 inches long, from the head of which emanated the bright speck of light. In brushing past the sightseers knocked off some of the worms and they fell into the water. They made a pretty, phosphorescent glow as ,they> flowed past the feet of the visitors in the swiftly-moving waters. z A few of tie party picked off glow-worms iynd put them on their hats. They were taken home and eontinued to glow for a considerable time. • The spectacle was greatly appreciated by all of the party, and Mr. White was heai’tily thanked for ths opportunity of seeing such a.magnificent sight.