STRANGE, IF TRUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 16, 20 January 1892, Page 8

STRANGE, IF TRUE.

BARON MUNCHAUSEN OUTDONE,

(ITemi Tub St. Louis " R.Ei'u__rc.")

A STOJtY which smacks of tho marvellous is just now the theme of much speculation ac Sydney, Australia. In May, 1800, George Henry Wethersby left the Australian metropolis for a prospecting tour in tho mountains of New Zealand, accompanied by his two nephews, R. S. and C. T. Cook, aged respectively 18 and 21. During July and August they had done much hard work around the base of Mount Ruaperbui and in the immediate vicinity. In the following month they penetrated tho unknown wi7ds en the bead waters of the River Waikato. October oth 'their crowbars loosened an immense ledge of rock which arose like a precipice from the bed of a small creek tributary to the Waikato. When tho debris was cleared away a small crack some ten inches wide was revealed. Within two feet of the opening this crack became a wide mouthed subterranean chamber. A little more labour admitted the men iuto the opening. Priming their miners' lamps, they started on a tour of exploration, iiones, charcoal and rudely constructed pottery was found everywhere ; some mummified remains of a small race of people with long-plaited hair, and a iew coppor weapons, were also found. Finally thoy emerged into an immense chamber, tho dome of which was several hundred feet above thoir heads. But tho titanic nature of the cavern did not oxcito their curiosity as much, as a strangeshaped object which was dimly outlined in tho centre of the chamber. In their unbounded amazf.motib thoy approached the uncanny object, and found ib to be a sailing vessel of marvellous symmetry and .sin-prising beauty. The deck was of rosewood ot of some material much reserablin" that valuable cabinet timber, and the masts of ebony, polished as finely as tho ouse of a music-box. The remains of the sails which hung idly around copper wire ropes or cables proved that they had been of-pure yeliow'siik, almost as thick as a farmer's grain sack.' The vessel was upward of 100 feet m length and socio 30 broad. Although there v/ere many copper wires and bands used jr. its construction, net a single nail or screw of any metal was to be seer., every joint being secured by hardwood screws or pins. Here lor once is room for unbounded speculation. When, hew and under what circumstances was this piece cf unknown marine handicraft transported tc this South Pacific island and buried hundreds of feet iv the interior of a lofty mountain? No means of egress or ingress were found except the narrow opening revealed by tho crowbar's work.