THE KING COUNTRY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 461, 9 April 1890, Page 5

THE KING COUNTRY.

GUBERNATORIAL VISIT

THE WAITOMO CAVES.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

Te Awamutu, April 3. The recently-discovered Waitomo Caves were visited yesterday by His Excellency the Governor and a large party of Europeans and natives, and a most enjoyable day was spent. One section of the party, including Lord and Lady Onslow and the Misses Whitaker, rode the whole distance of 10 miles to the caves on horseback. Others, of whom Sir Frederick Whitaker, the Hon. E. Mitehelson, and Mr J. H. Upton (Mayor of Auckland) formed several, travelled by train to Hongitiki, a distance ol six miles, then walked a mile and a-half, and did the final four miles on horseback. This arrangement enabled the latter paity to see something of the King Country beyond Otorohanga, and they were repaid tor ttieir trouble. The scenery is beautiful, with an undulating country stretching away as far as the eye can reach, with here and there a peaceful valley, in the centre of which are the raupo whares and maize clearings, indicating the existence of a Maori settlement. Occasionally, a pretty winding stream varies the view, and ren • ders it more enchanting to the eye. One is struck with the luxuriance of cultivation, and evident richness of the soil. Here is SOME OF THE FINEST LAND IN THE COLONY,

and the fa*ct is important that it is now under negotiation, and ere long will be covered with numerous homesteads. The Government hope to be able to put the first settlers on it this year, and are endeavouring to acquire an immense area of similar country, the soil of which is splendid. THE SCENE AT WAIOTOMO,

when the party which formed quite a cavalcade arrived there, was a picturesque one. o aitomo is a valley, or, more correctly speaking, a saddle, between two high ranges or hills, and at the foot of this saddle runs the Waitomo River. Crossing the saddle, the slope beyond was covered by a motley assemblage of Mauris, who chanted a song of welcome when Lord and Lady Onslow appeared. His Excellency shook hands with several of the chiefs and suitably acknowledged their greetings. THE WAITOMO CAVES.

A start was then made for the caves. The entrance is by water, a stream some 20 feet wide flowing underground. The party were conveyed three or four at a time in a canoe through a cavernous entrance, a distance of about 50 yards, and landed in the hist chamber. The caves are of limestone formation, and are most remarkable in appearance ; indeed, as a sight they surpass the famous pink and white terraces «f Rotorua. The interior of the cavern by which an entrance is gained is weird in the extreme, immense stalactites of an earthen colour hanging from the roof and projecting from the sides, and giving the chamber a most uncanny appearance. Indeed, the fact that the caves remained so long undiscovered was due to the dread the Maoris had of the entrance, which they believed was haunted by “ taniwhas.” The stream flows all the way through the caves, which are somewhat intricate in their windings, traversing a distance of nearly half a mile. The whole ol this is done on foot. The interior is

BEAUTIFUL BEYOND DESCRIPTION. One of the largest chambers, which is probably 40 feet high,resembles the interior of a Gothic cathedral with a vaulted ceiling carved out beautifully, as if it had been done by the chisel of a mason. Immense columns and pillars of limestone deposit rise to’the ceiling. Beyond this is the glowworm chamber, so-called because the roof is illumined by millions of glowworms, which glisten like countless gems. Another chamber is called “ the native lands court ” from the fact that the stalagmites form figures corresponding in detail with the occupants of a Court of J ustice. Ascending by means of ladders, other chambers are reached, and in these formations are of every conceivable form and wonderfully beautiful. Some resemble woollen fleeces, others aro like chiselled folds of pure and transparent marble, and others again possess the graceful outlines of the loveliest statuary. Scarcely two formations are alike, From the roof depend an immense number of stalactites which might be more graphically described as crystal pendants, some being for all the world like bunches of parsnips, and others being fully two feet long and no thicker than a pencil. The organ gallery contains a good imitation of an organ in pure marble, while in the next chamber may be seen

A REMARKABLE PHENOMENON. From the ceiling hangs what might be taken for the folds of a blanket, but wha,b is really a limestone formation. It is semitransparent, and if a light is held behind it one can plainly see the green stripes of the blanket, just where they would be. There is a beautiful imitation in miniature of the white terraces, the surface of which is covered with glistening white silica. Another phenomenon is a formation of black terraces amongst white, a crystallised formation. Probably the loveliest spot of all was the fairy grotto, which, from its appearance, might have been hollowed out of pure white marble ; here again the stalactites assumed . the most fantastic shapes, and were charming in their loveliness. The party finally emerged on the side of the hill, fifty feet above the spot whore they 6ntor6(i» v?It was the general opinion that the Waitomo Caves will ere long be one of the most popular resorts for tourists, and certainly. now is one of the most attractive. The Governor and party proceeded along the railway line to see the recently-con-structed

WAITE TE VIADUCT, where an immense amount of money has been spent to avoid a descent of the line into a valley, Otorohanga was reached shortly after dusk. The Maoris arranged a number of hakas and other native dances for the amusement of Governor and Lady Onslow last night. THE RETURN TRIP. At eight o’clock this mourning a special train left Otorohanga with a portion of the party, amongst whom were Sir Frederick Whitaker, Messrs Whitaker, Upton, Grant, Bate and Jackson, to catch the ordinary train for Auckland at Te Awamubu. They will arrive in Auckland this afternoon, The special train returned to Otorohanga and conveyed the Governor and Mr Mitehelson and party to Hamilton, where they were received and welcomed by Mr Graham (Mayor of that borough), who subsequently entertained them at lunch. The visitors were to leave in the afternoon for Cambridge, where they would pass the night, returning to Auckland tomorrow evening.