ACCOUNT OF DISCOVERY OF WAITOMO CAVES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 299, 1 October 1910, Page 2

ACCOUNT OF DISCOVERY OF WAITOMO CAVES.

(Copied from the original record made by Mr Fred. Mace, surveyor, Otorohanga, July 10th, 1S88.) In accordance with a desire expressed by Major Mair, Judge of the Native Land Court, I have much pleasure in placing upon record a brief account of the discovery of these wonderful caves. About four years ago I was first shown the great cavern where tha Waitomo River disappears under the hill. I was then engaged as assistant to Mr Lawrence Cussen, who was making the minor triangulation survey of the King Country. But I determined to explore the subterranean passage of the river upon the first opportunity. On the 26th December last thinking it would be a very good way to spend the Christmas holidays, I came up with my wife to Tane Tinorau's Kianga and during the evening talked to him and Purangi about making an exploration. Neither of them seemed inclined to go, and both strongly advised me not to do so. I fancy that the enormous size of the eels they used to catch at the mouth of the cavern had a great deal to do with their unwillingness to accompany me. Probably they had an idea they might encounter some terrible Saurian Taniwha underground. The next day we went to look at the cavern, and thence accompanied by Tane Tinarau's wife and family we went up the river some little distance and collected a good supply of Korori (flax flower-stalks) for the purpose of making a raft, as then there were no canoes in that part of the country. The following morning (28th December) I set to work, assisted by Tane Tinorau and Purangi, and by ten o'colck had completed its construction. On seeing that the raft was perfectly safe, Tane Tinorau screwed up his courage and agreed to accompany me. We lit our candles and started upon our voyage of discovery, the women and Purangi going to the other side of the hill where the river emerges, to await our arrival. When we got round the first bend of the river, my companion wished to return, but; as it was difficult to pilot the raft against the current: I suggested that he had better wait on the sandy beach until I returned. It being quite dark there, he preferred to remain in company. So on we went, landing at one or two places to examine the sides. After passing through the first lofty chamber we entered a very low passage, in which we were obliged to lie down on the raft to avoid the stalactites, then passed into another long and lofty chamber and then into another narrow low passage where the river runs very swiftly. At that point we found two small streams running into the main river, one on each side. We then passed into another lofty chamber (of nearly uniform height) for some distance, until we found ourselves brought up suddenly by a mass of drift wood, which chokes the river for about one hundred feet back from a perpendicular wall of rock. The river appeared to pass through an aperture in the wall somewhere below the surface level. Finding that we could not get through, we started upon our return trip. Poling our raft against the stream proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated, so •much so, that whenever we got into tolerably shallow water we jumped overboard and dragged the raft along. We managed to reach the mouth of the cavern (and daylight) just in time, as our candles (we had only two) were nearly burnt out. The next day I returned to Otorohanga and decided to further explore the place as soon as circumstances would allow. On the 10th of February last I again visited Waitomo, accompanied by Brother Septimus and Messrs Robert Cashel, D. M. Watt and Clements. We spent some hours under ground, Tane Timarau being also with us. On that occasion we discovered and explored No. 1 Cave. We also discovered No. 2 Cave, but could not get up to it, having very little time to spare. On the 24th idem. I went again with a large party. We cut long poles in the bush outside, carriep them in on the raft and constructed a rough ladder. On that occasion we managed to reach No. 3 Cave, but could not reach No. 4 as our ladder was not long enough. Tane Timarau (who was my companion in the first exploration) afterwards made a better ladder and succeeded in reaching No. 4 Cave, the passage now used as the mode of egress from that level into daylight being subsequently discovered immediately above the lower entrance. (Signed) FRED. MACE. Surveyor. Otorohanga, loth July, 1888.