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Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1623, 27 October 1874, Page 405

A recent publication contains the following description of one of the wonders of Hawaii. The writer says :—One of the wonders of Kauai is the subterranean lake in the neighborhood of Haena. At the foot of a mountain, upwards of 3,ooofthigh, a vast cavern opens out, into which 10 horsemen might easily ride abreast. Immense stalactites descend from a height of more than 60ft. and form natural 'columns which appear to support a rounded cupola. This first cavern has an area of little more than two acres and a half. On the right, a narrow fissure gives admission to a second. In order to penetrate this the Kanakas light torches' and strings of the nut of kuku, which they bring with them. From a neighbouring hut they also procure a canoe. This is neccessary for the exploration of the two caverns, which are> in reality, subterranean lakes, communicating with each other. The first measures a little more than seven acres. The water is of an incredible transparency, and very deceptive as to its depth. I was astonished to find on taking soundings that the water was 120 ft. deep at about 20 yards from the shore. I caused the torches to be extinguished, when the darkness became absolute ; and by casting several stones in the lake I satisfied myself that its waters were phosphorescent. The ripples shone like fragments of mica, and the stones in sinking left a trail of palid light behind them. The natives call the first lake Wai-a-kapa-lae, or waters of terror; the second Wai-a-kana-loa, or waters of great desolation. This cavern is, perhaps, more curious than the other. You enter it in the canoe beneath a Gothic arch chisslled by volcanic action. A strong odour of sulphur is disengaged from the water, and the walls are tapestried by a subterranean vegetation of a pale yellow, due to sulphurous emanations. The least word, the slightest sound is repeated by the echoes with a deafening effect. An indigenous tradition makes this lake the abode of a god, basilisk, or dragon, who devoured all those who dared adventure within his lair. The natives laughingly recounted these legends of bygone times, and one of them, in order to exhibit his disdain for them, plunged into the lake and swam about in it. I did not feel inclined to follow his example." The New Zealand Herald says :—" The wail which has been set up in the London Press by the victimized passengers per the mail steamers, and who had their through tickets dishonored at San Francisco, deserves something more than a passing notice. Several letters have appeared in the London Times upon the subject, of which the following by ' R. H. L.' an Auckland passenger, may be adduced as a sample. Writing on the Bth of August, he says :—' Will you give me an opportunity of warning any travellers who may contemplate proceeding to Australia or to New Zealand by the Australian and American steamship line of the probable fate that is in store for them at the hands of that company and its agents. In common with a number of their deluded victims, I purchased in June last a through first-class ticket from Auckland, New Zealand, to Liverpool. On arrival at San Francisco the agents of the company, Messrs J. C. Merrill and Co., whose endorsement on the passage ticket is necessary, before it will be honored by any of the railway companies, declined point-blank to accept the responsibility, refused to assist us in any way to proceed on our journey, and endorsed all tickets. ' Presented and we have refused to countersign. J. C. Merrill and Co.' A large number of passengers, most of them quite unprepared with the available funds to meet such a contingency, were thus left to puzzle their way to Liverpool as best they might, and that considerable embarrassment and some hardship ensued I need scarcely say. The agent of the company at New York, a Mr Forbes, while stating his firm belief in the stability and bona fide of the company, declined to provide passages for any of the New Zealand ticket-holders, and left them to shift for themselves. The London agents, who are advertized as 'Managing Agents,' declare that they have no funds and refuse to refund the money due. At this stage matters at present stand.' Such communications as these must inevitably seriously damage the interests of the line, so far as passenger traffic is concerned, if some counteracting steps are not taken by the Government, and the suggestion of another correspondent is not altogether out of place. He says :—' Now, sir, I think that the New South Wales and New Zealand Governments ought to see our claims settled, or to satisfy themselves, as there is no doubt that we in a great measure placed faith in the company as being countenanced and approved by them, and subsidized to the extent of £BO,OOO per annum.' The necessary sum iu compensation, divided between the two colonies, would be but a trifle, and would be less if the ' penalties' were to be enforced."