MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 March 1940, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

HORO HUKA (FOAMING FALLS). (Recorded by J.H.S. for the “Times-Age.”) These Huka Falls are now perhaps the most striking and impressive sight in all New Zealand, nearly approaching the lost terraces in wonder and beauty. The millions of tons of rapid water for a mile above the falls have cut a rock channel straight and square as concrete walls. At 1200 feet above sea level, this giant river, reduced to 60 feet wide and of unknown depth for 100 yards down an unusually steep road grade, jumps 50 feet into a vast circular chasm of foam. It is difficult to imagine how even a fish could pass through it alive. Massive blocks of rock weighing 100 pounds, rolled into the head of this swift race, actually float on the surface until dashed into the cauldron below. Sunshine on the falls, the spray and the volume of foam, produce marvellous displays of glittering colours like a rainbow quivering under some mysterious force of nature. An attempt to pass under and behind the falls, as may be done easily at Niagara. was made from each side, but failed owing to a wall of rock believed to be only ten feet thick, near the centre. Some day this will be pierced with a tunnel, and lighted with electric bulbs to show the marvels of hidden mosses and lichens growing in this chamber of subdued light by day. but lighted at night by those mysterious puratoke (glow worms).