“At the meeting of the ways above referred to, the lower or eastern one is named ‘The Slanting Way’ from the fact that the passage is formed by a separation of the limestone strata, and lies across their dip. The upper passage has an arched roof and has been named ‘The Subway.’ Both are difficult to traverse: the former on account of the broken debris and sloping rock of which the floors are formed, and of two uncomfortably narrow places which can be squeezed through with difficulty; the latter on account of the close proximity of floor and ceiling and the necessity of bending nearly double for a considerable part of the distance while traversing it. The lower passage is the easier of the two. The strata forming the Slanting Way are from five to ten feet apart. The slabs of both roof and floor are water-worn and bear spatulated erosion marks, like incipient honey-combing. On the east, or left side, as you advance, are deep cracks in the strata, at the bottom of whose depths Cougar creek may be heard echoing loudly through the vaulted ways. Stones dropped into these seem to rebound for a long time before resting. About the centre of the Slanting Way the cracks in the strata expand and a descent may be made to the bed of Cougar creek below the Turbine. The Turbine is reached by a rather difficult passage requiring some skill in climbing. The end of the passage is an irregular opening in the rock. Across a chasm, at whose bottom flows the main stream, a number of water-spouts rush out with great force and a noise resembling that produced by water falling into the pit of a turbine. For an account of this section see Ayres’ report. Near the south end of the Slanting Way is a curious pothole on the left-hand side. Directly beyond it the floor and walls are covered by an incrustation of carbonate of lime, varying in thickness from 2 to 6 inches. It is of a light creamy colour, shading off in some places to a delicate salmon. The formation has a florescent appearance and resembles, mostly, cauliflower heads set closely together, a simile derived from W. S. Ayres’ report. Owing to the beautiful floral decorations, this particular spot has been named ‘The Art Gallery.’
“Similar decorations are found throughout the Caves, though not so extensively as at this and a few other places. At some, there is only a thin veneer of the carbonate formation and, at others, rock-milk (agaric mineral) is seen on the floors and boulders. The writer did not observe any stalagmites, nor any stalactites worth speaking of. The longest did not exceed 15 inches, and resembled, more than anything else, a thin icicle of that length; its chief interest being that it was clear and transparent, as though made of ice, and as brittle as glass.
“The Subway is about 10 to 15 feet wide and from 7 to 2 feet high; the roof is arched and covered by moisture drops, which are very unpleasant when they find their way down your back. The floor is of broken rock, rising to a ridge along the centre of the passageway.
“From the meeting of the ways, just beyond the Art Gallery, the passage continues southeasterly, ever increasing in interest. In the next 200 feet, it varies in width from 15 to 30 feet with a height of 10 to 15 feet. On the right is a narrow twisting side-opening named ‘The Gimlet.’ On the left are two concave sections of old potholes, leading into the most subterranean depths. They are profusely decorated by florescent carbonate incrustations, the first one being named ‘The Dome’ from its perfect formation. Minor passageways lead from them at a still greater depth. The most southerly one connects with ‘Judgment Hall,’ to be described further on (see [map]). In this section the underground course of Cougar creek crosses the corridor, at a considerable depth below, and the roar of the hidden waters is transferred from the left to the right hand.
“A narrow opening, 1½ feet wide and 15 feet long, now leads to ‘Carbonate Grotto’ where are seen very fine calcium decorations. The Cavern containing the grotto is about 60 by 30 feet, with a height varying from 10 to 15 feet. For the next 130 feet the passage varies from 8 feet wide and 5 feet high at the upper end to 20 feet wide and 5 feet high at the lower end. The sides are hung with rock shelves, and spotted with lime incrustations; the bottom is much impeded by fallen blocks. You now find yourself in a cul-de-sac and apparently at the end of the series. Not so, however, for by squeezing through a narrow opening on the right, barely noticeable in the darkness, you are enabled to descend to probably the largest cavern of all, at a depth of 57 feet below the corridor just left. The chamber, 200 feet long, 20 feet wide and 40 to 50 feet high has been named ‘Judgment Hall,’ on account of a pillar which might stand for the pillar of justice. The floor is littered by blocks broken from the roof and sides which lie piled in great heaps at the north end. The roof is roughly arched, and the sides rise upwards in parallel ledges resembling shelves. Roof, sides, and the rocks piled on the floor, are covered by the white calcite and, in many places, present most beautiful patterns and beds of florescent formations. The north end is connected by a rough passage with one of the potholes referred to below the meeting of the ways.
“Near the centre of the western wall, a narrow gap leads to a very beautiful, though small, chamber named ‘The White Grotto’ by W. S. Ayres. The carbonate decorations here are of great beauty and delicacy. The passage in which the chamber is found is 40 feet long, 15 feet wide and 10 feet high. The final cave has been named the ‘Bridal Chamber’ by W. S. Ayres, owing to the purity of its lime draperies and the general beauty of its floral decorations. It is small, and beyond this point exploration has not yet been carried. The passage breaks off in a precipice falling to a deep chasm, at the bottom of which a subterranean stream, probably Cougar creek, may be heard.
“This is the farthest point to which the present survey has been carried. It is 240 feet from the Wind crack, previously referred to as being seen on the way up the valley, and is only 54 feet above it; it is safe to assume that there is a connection between. The wind issuing from the crack is probably due to a water blast caused by the subterranean stream falling into the chasm at the end of the exploration.
“There are two other passages, or rather sets of passages, that have not yet been mentioned, viz.: ‘The Ice Cave,’ situated above the deep entrance from the Gorge. It is reached from the valley floor and is not of large dimensions, presenting only one chamber of any size, which has been christened ‘The Temple.’ The series has been named the Ice Cave from the fact that the initial passage entrance is blocked by ice all the year round, and an entry is effected over this blockage.
“The second set of passages are entered immediately below the Goat falls, which pour into them until late in October, when they become ice-bound. Last October, the writer followed two of the passages—one for about 150 feet, the other for about 50 feet—but could get no farther without material for bridging. The formation resembles the passage leading to the Auditorium, but on a smaller scale, viz., a series of well formed potholes connected one with the other. It is assumed that the flow from the Goat falls, the big bulk of which passes through these two channels, empties into the main waterway at the Turbine, but its course may possibly be more direct. If it does not, however, it is difficult to know where the water flowing in at the Turbine comes from.
“It is still something more than half a mile from the end of the present exploration to the final point at which the subterranean waters of Cougar creek are returned to the surface bed. There may consequently be accessible passageways that are yet undiscovered but, as the surface grade over this unknown interior is much steeper and the subterranean creek bed is approaching the surface, it seems probable that, if existing, they will be found inaccessible.