A VISIT TO THE DEVIL'S HOLE, CATLIN'S RIVER.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 548, 28 June 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

A VISIT TO THE DEVIL'S HOLE, CATLIN'S RIVER.

(Fran "Oar Own" of Dunedin Herald.) A primz viita, it would appear we are in this district favored (the favor being equivocal, as are moat favors of a like nature) by that popular and powerful gentleman designated by a biassed world's population, the arch enemy of mankind. In other and vernacular phraseology, the Devil, inasmuoh as he has canonised his infernal deity by numerous associations of locality. In the Owaki River (we call it here the Owake, but I prefer the Maori Owaki) we have the "Devil's Elbow," rightly so called. This is a mud-bank which extends out in the shape of an elbow, and at high water proves a snare and a delusion to «n inexperienced mariner, and is likely to entrap the mariner and hia craft in its muddy embrace. The one craft is not equal to the other. Having ftassed a dark and stormy winter's night caning on the Devil's Elbow in a small boat, my statement that it is rightly socalled may be taken as authoritative. This delightful spot was so designated years ago by an ancient mariner who came to grief thereon, his calculation of elbow-room being outside the üßual reckoning of his navigation. His apt nomenclature reflects oredit upon his judioial taste, and doubtless was prompted by strong feeling. However that may have been, it still remains, and will remain the "Devil's Elbow," and it avoided accordingly. Another landmark canonised by infernal association is that known by the name of the "Devil's Hole," the name in this instance being a misnomer. Having heard varied accounts of the astounding wonders to b« seen and heard at the "Devil's Hole," I determined to explore—the result being that I saw one of the grandest pieoes of natural scenery it has ever been my lot to witness. To associate in any way such a place with the Devil is more than he deserves, hence I say the name is a misnomer. But until we can find a batter designation, we will, for the nonce, call it the Devil's Hole. The "hole" in question is about a quarter of a mile from the coast, inland, being nearly in a direct line with that pastoral inßular tenement or leasehold, known by the elegant appellation of "Bloody Jaok's Island." Being situated in, and entirely surrounded by a dense bush, it was necessary to have a guide. Accordingly I secured the services of an experienced bushman, who knows the bush about here thoroughly well. We took boat to an old and unused tramway, and disembarked. Following the tramway up for two or three miles, we then struck off into the bush to make for the sea coast. It was somewhat a difficult operation scrambling through the thick bush, and fighting against tenacious "lawyers" and obstinate "supples," but withal a pleasant one. The heels of my guide at times were where his head should have been, but, thanks to my long legs, I was not compelled to follow his example, Hills were climbed, deep valleys descended, and innumerable creeks and gorges crossed, until we saw gleaming through the bush a flood of generous sunlight and the far-off bosom of the waste of waters. _ Cautiously approaching the brow of the oliffa, we found ourselves some 250 feet above the level of the sea, the cliffs having a precipitate and perpendicular retreat. Again striking inland, we scrambled a little further on, until " the sound of many waters" announced our close proximity to the " Devil's Hole." Language fails to describe the scene. The "Devil's Hole"iasimply an immense cavern, situated in a dense bush, mnd is f ally a quarter of it mile from the sea, with no other connection to it than by the long and narrow tubular cavities at its base, through which the water rushes with a velocity and intensity that is indesorible. The opening of the being (roughly) about nine ohains and the breadth about four. Thick bush grows in lavish profusion to its very brink, so that exploration is attended with danger and difficulty, requiring great caution in procedure. On looking down, the sight is peculiarly fausoinating, grand, and somewhat awful. The rooks at either side and at either end rise with a precipitate boldness, and present perpendicular bulwarks that would repel the strongest force of tidal invasion. They are fully 200 ft from top to bottom, and in many places are as Smooth as glass. Not a orag or » foothold is observable, the whole interior aspect being one that presents sheer inaccessibility to the beholder. At one end, that nearest the coast, are to be seen two tubular caverns at nearly right angles to each other, having communication with the aea, and through whioh the waves rush with a deafening and fearful velocity, surging along the bed of th« cave, retiring again until the next disgorgement comes heaving in in tumultuous confusion, throwing up showers of spray, and sending forth a hollow and deep echo, that spends itself in a diversity of sounds. The waves below, which continually beat at the base, seem to have worn the rocks into an impending boldness, so that they seem to jut out, while the rasping of the sea makes the place nearly inaccessible from below. At the opposite and inland end is another large tubular cavern, going — no one,knows where. Only at high water is this part of the cavern covered. The tide being low when I was there a pebbly beach was presented to the view just at the entrance of the tubular cavity referred to. The sea was extremely quiet outside, yet the noise here was jjreat. When there ia a " big" sea on, it is impossible to hear your own yoioe, and so deafening is the noise that it can bo heard for some miles off. Indeed Homer's Stentor would prove inaudible hers. The toeka *t ik© base appear to be of a rich blood color, and ai smooth asif they were artificially polished. On throwing a heavy piece of wood, weighing some 201b. over the edge of the declivity, it was exactly 24 seconds before we heard the report of its fall, which boomed upon the ear like the discharge of a piece of heavy ordnance. We cautiously worked our way right round the cavern, so as to view it from every possible standpoint. Observation is, however, retarded by the thick and luxuriant growth of bush and heavy timber whioh fringes the very margin, and the knowledge that one false step would hurl us into eternity, made us exceedingly cautious. There is a tremendous sublimity about this vast cavern that makes itself felt, even to the most stoical of observers, and the oontrast between this and the works of art of even the most pretentious order reduce the latter to mere pigmies. A species of awe seises the beholder when he looks over the impending height, down on the immense vicinity below. A faacination o«ems to impel the beholder to ponder on the terrors of falling to the Bottom. The solemn roar of the angry and perturbed waters swelling into and subsiding from the vast tubular caverns beneath, and the grandeur of all the surrounding scenery, is likely to raise the mind to its highest and noblest exertions. Where the coastal entranoe to this strange cavern is no one appears to know. I intend next summer, the first favorable opportunity, to organise an exploring party, and endeavor by means of sufficiently streng ropes •to get to the bottom, and •xplcro fee •tvjtj ruwji&g iaUud, which.

is apparently only accessible at low water. It will be both an arduous and dangerous operation, but with necessary precaution and a good nerve, I think it can be done safely. Ido not think m yet a man has been at the bottom of this cavern. Ido not profess to be gifted with a prophetic spirit, but I do not hesitate to prophecy that in years to come, when Catlin'a is a fashionable watering place, this cave will be the rendezvous of tourists and of the lovers of natural scenery from all parts of New Zealand. Full of grand scenery as this land of our adoption it, there are few scenes to be found to surpass or even equal this wonderful cavern for grandeur, boldness, and pioturesqaeness. I carved my initials on a tree growing close to tbe brink, scrupulously adding the date, and left with a mental assurance that the re* coid would outlive the recorder.