THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE WAITOMO CAVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2767, 8 April 1890, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE WAITOMO CAVES.

On Wednesday morning last the Governor and Lady Onslow, accompanied by Miss Whitaker, Sir Frederick Whitaker, Hon. E. Mitchelson and a number of the Governor's suite left here at 9"20 a.m. en route for the now celebrated Waitoino Caves, a large number of natives and Europeans also following on horseback. Some of the members of the gubernatorial party went by the special train which brouerht the party up as far as Hangatiki station where horses were awaiting His Excellency, Lady Onslow and the ladies of the party also proceeding mounted fr«ra the township. The road to the caves from Otorohanga was in excellent order and good progress was made, the road from Hangatiki station to the caves now being formed under the directions of Mr Hurstlh6use, district engineer, has had a large amount of labour expended upon it, and when a few culverts are completed will be fit for wheeled traffic, but in winter time it will be a heavy one to travel over. The i caves where reached in about three hours, where a good number of natives had already assembled to meet his Excellency, Lady Onslow, and suite. The old chief Taratutu, better known as Aporo (the chief who some years ago broke up the press of Gorst's newspaper at Te Awamutu, and who some years afterwards was arrested in Auckland, tried and sentenced to twoyears's imprisonment for the offence, a victim he says to misplaced confidence) welcomed His Excellency and Lady Onslow to the caves. He explained he had preferred to do so here rather than at the formal meeting of the chiefs at Otorohanga on the previous day. Food, pork, and potatoes had been propared at the mouth of the caves on the bank of the creek, with a good supply of melons, to which all were made, as usual to natives, heartily welcome. A dish of pork etc., was presented fresh from the Kapa Maori to the Governor and party, who with Lady Onslow tasted the food in native fashion, pronouncing it excellent. Mr John Ifetit had provided a luncheon and tea for the party, which being done justice to by the illustrious visitors, a movo was made to the cave, which Mr Eraser "had, already in anticipation, lighted up with a number of candles. The inadequate accomodation provided to obtain entrance to the caves, up the Waitomo stream must rather have astonished the Governor's I party, especially the ladies, instead of a respectable canoe, or flat-bottom punt, the only provision made was an old trough dug out of a log, with two large bundles of sticks tied on the outside to keep it from sinking, and being full of fern and water not more than three, or at the most four 'persons,'could, with any safety, be pulled through by means of a rope at each end. As on this occasion the caves were free, in honour of the Governor'* visit, every native nearly elected to go in and narrow were the escapes of a capsize. One party only, however, that we saw, came to grief, amongstwhom was the well-known general store-keeper, Mr,P. McDonald, of Otorohanga, together with three natives. They were capsized near the end of their journey, and all swam back in a most frantic manner. The roars of laughter which greeted them from those waiting outside, did not appear to console them much for their immersion. It does indeed seem strange that after so much money is being expended upon a road here that a pound or two could not have been afforded to build a punt to land visitors dry-foot and in safety inside the caves. The caves have already been desctibed, and had they not been so, my hurried visit on this occasion, and amongst so many, would prevent any proper description beine attempted. All were delighted with them, and many of those present amongst the Europeans intend to return to a more leisurely inspection. After going through the caves and issuing out at the hole in the top, Lord OnsUw and Captain Saville took some views inside. The whole party returned to Otorohanga in the eve, where at the Governor's invitation the Public Hall was filled, to witness some hakas, etc., by a number of young native women and men. from Te Kuiti, who had come down for the purpose. Ac the close of the performance ringing cheers were Riven for His Excellency the Governor. Lady Onslow and party. Afterwards the natives held a ball in European style, at which a number of the staff enjoyed themselves in dancing with Maori damsel* until an early hour. The next morning (Thursday) after breakfast a number of natives met the Governor on the railway platform, when Taonui Hikaka presented the Governor with a handsome greenstone tribal mere, together with a mat. Hauauru followed with a bunch of tenth of some kind known a3 aureu, which were graciously accepted. The Governor assisted his aide, Captain Saville, in placing and grouping several of the natives, the Captain taking a shot at them with his camera. Amongst f .hose taken were Taonui, TaratntH, Hauauru, and Te Naunau. Lady Onslow and the Governor rejoiced the hearts of th« youngsters by ■ distributing Jews' Harps ad lib. A large number of natives availed themsolvoß at the invitation of the Governor, of going on board the train, and inspecting the Government sleeping carriage, etc. One of the horses that was burned in the truck at Frankton, remains behind in Mr Hetit's stables. The poor animal is badly burned, and it is very doubtful if it ever properly recovers the use of its limbs. An amusing incident occurred just as the Governor's special was leaving, a native named Patupatu, who had a subscription list for the Otorohanga races to bo held here on Tuesday next, handed it up, asd was rejoiced in at ouce having the signature Te Kawana £2 4s. and the amount handed to him. That was improving the occasion with a vengeance.