.s^;(•K^;TAl{Y■s iticPoKX. 
At tliis point in tlie history of a subterranean river zig-zags 
are changed into sharp windings, which in their turn impart 
a swing to the waters in the straight parts, thus causing a series 
of windings to be set up in a manner similar to that which goes 
on in surface streams. 
As the external opening which gives access to the water 
increases in size, so does the amount of water flowing through 
the passage increase. An increase of volume means an increase 
of speed and a lessened tendency to winding ; at the same time 
the passage must be widened so as to accommodate the increased 
volume of the stream. 
The tendency at this stage is, then, to widen and straighten 
out the passages, and many are the deserted " oxbows," botli 
large and small, which |^ay be seen in the passages. 
Some of these are small, and situated at a considerable 
height above the floor of the main passage, while others of more 
recent formation are approximately at the same level as the 
water-bearing passage, a few of them still being occupied by 
a portion of the stream in times of flood. 
The condition of approximate stability is reached when 
the opening becomes sufficiently large to swallow the whole of 
the surface stream. 
On the occasion of their last visit to the district your Com- 
mittee hurriedly explored a cave which they had not previously 
seen, and are of opinion that it offers remarkable facilities for 
the further study of the development of underground water- 
courses, inasmuch as it exhibits tributary and deserted passages 
in every stage of development and decay. 
In order to enable them to further prosecute the study 
of this most interesting question your Committee hopes that 
it will be granted a new lease of life, and therefore asks to be 
reappointed with a further grant. 
The members of the Committee wish to tender their thanks 
to Mr. Theodore Ashley, of Leeds, mine surveyor, who, though 
not a member of either of the Committees, has given much time 
and care to the investigation. 
