THE WAITOMO CAVES.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13052, 11 March 1911, Page 3

THE WAITOMO CAVES.

The attractions of Waitomo have been added to by the discovery of a big cave, which combines most ot the beauties of those at present known, and has, in addition, some others pu-uliar to itself. A .genial Maori .named Aranui, who, like one of Uret Harte's heroes, is childlike and b and, and is chiefly remarkable, for a large pair of smoked goggles, was out one day replenishing the family larder with fresh pork, when he suddenly came en an opening in the steep hillside where his grunting quarry led him Overcoming the natural native aversion to things dark and unknown, Vraiiul struggled through the narrow path, and his adventure i* ven.ll.v amusing when you hear him tell it himself. Ak he got in he lit a match, which, of course, wei.fc out, partly through agitation on the part of they holder, and partly owing to bad air. The glimpse he had in the moment oi illumination was almost too much for him. "JJy Korry !" says the author of the incident. "1 think I sue te taipo. When he got more light on the subject Aranui discovered that the fearsome object which had set his heart beating was one of the weird forms in which " limestone delights, the image being rendered more. Satanic- by the fitful and momentary glare of Inf. match. The new grotto is situated about a mil? from. Waitomo House, and is between the old or.igi.ual cave and the ltuakuri cave. From thn road, the path leads through sumo beautiful tawa trees, and the entrance to* the mysteries of the unknown is situated amid romantic surroundings, recalling one's youthful ideas cf the story of Ali Baba a.nd the forty thieves. In our ease the "open sesame" was pronounced by Miss Mackenzie, who broke a largo bottle of "George Doulc-t, 1904" at the rocky lnouth, and in sympathy many human mouths watered also, for Waitomo is in the "dry area," and more than one regretful sigh was heaved at the loss of so much cxcclle.nt champagne on such a hot and dusty day. with the smo-ko from bush tiros all round. — "Auckland Star."