HAHUNGA CAVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 163, 10 July 1907, Page 8

HAHUNGA CAVES.

, ; (To the Editor.) Sir, —In a report of the One-tree Hill Domain Board, held last Wednesday afternoon, a letter was referred to re these caves from Mr. C. Arnold, architect, to Sir John Logan Campbell. As my name appears in Mr. Arnold's so-called report, ft would respectfully ask you to publishfmy answer. I am sorry my reply at the meeting was not reported. The letter yas misleading. Mr. Arnold gives inaccurtte dimensions of the chambers. I have had them carefully measured with a plumb-line, and find that it is 25ft Gin from the entrance at —te mouth to the level of the first floor. From the level oi the first floor to the level of the second floor is 14ft, and from the level of the second floor to the bottom of the third floor is sft. From the entrance to the bottom floor measures vertically 44ft 6in, and this is the measurement Mr. Arnold places not more than 15ft. Then he goes on to say there is an accumulation. of bones, "probably Maori," I do not know what he means by the 'word "probably," unless he wishes to assume that they are European bones. As a rjatter of fact, the second or middle caves where the bones are deposited was not inspected on the day of Mr. Arnold's visit. In the report the term plastic lava occurs, but I agree with Professor Thomas that the lava in the top cave is very unique in tiic formation of the walls. The writer then goes on to say that the cave consists of a chamber extending 26ft north-west, and 15ft south; but, as a matter of fact, the measurements are 54f t from north to south in No. 1 cave. : No. 2 cave, the depository of the bones, measures in length 46ft 6in; while So. 3, the bottom cave, measures about 13ft across. Mr. Arnold asserts with Mr. Bagley, he made an inspection of the caves on Saturday, June the 29th, whereas we only inspected one portion of the caves, the top chamber. I am,' etc., . S

CHAS. BAGLEY.