Whakarewarewa’s Weird Wonders

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XXV, 22 June 1901, Page 4 (Supplement)

Whakarewarewa’s Weird Wonders

From Ohiiwmutu the party drove to Whakarewarewa. arriving at 11.30. They were met by the Tiihourangi section of the Arawa trii>e, headed by Te Keepa, lita Taii|K>poki and other leading chiefs, the natives cheering enthusiastically. They were

shown Nelson's famous earved house at the entrance to the village as they passed, and then proceeded along the road to the bridge over Tuarenga Creek. Here an arch of welcome, handsomely decorated with ferns and lycopodium, was erected on the bridge, with "Haere-mai,” the Maori welcome, written overhead. After crossing the bridge Their" Highnesses and party alighted, and proceeded to the Government reserve.

Mr W. H. Clark, Government Inspector, led the way. Sophia, the veteran guide, and one of the few survivors at Wairba during the faiWuS Tara--wera eruption,- acted ds- gtiide to the ’Duchess,- Maggie Papfikura; a handsome half-HXisfegirt'giiidhigtlie Duke. The first spot visited was" the AVairoa • Geyser. Mr Clark threw in a quantity of soap, and in a few minutes a magnificent column of boiling water burst from the aperture, reaching- to the height of-about one hundred feet. -The geyser played with immense activity for several minutes, making a grand spectacle.

Pohutu, another famous geyser, was visited next, and more soap was applied to coax the pent-up waters to burst forth, but Pohutu- had been playing splendidly for nearly an hour, stopping just before : the Royalties arrived, and evidently the geyser considered it had-done enough for a day, anyhow it " declined to exhibit its qualities, so the party passed on to examine Kereru, the Torpedo, the Brain Pot, famous in the history of inter-tribal wars, and other spots of interest.

Returning through the native enclosure, the Duke and party stationed themselves on the bridge, and watched with great interest and amusement the dusky native children diving from the railing into the creek, twenty feet below . The Duchess was highly amused at the anties of these excited little mortals, who vied one with another in diving for a silver coin and pennies thrown from the bridge above. The Premier bribed two tiny Maori girls with a present of half-a-crown each to dive from the bridge for the benefit of the Duchess. Nothing loath, the little mites, putting the coins for safety in their mouths, jumped boldly from the rail amidst great laughter and applause. A band of Maori girls in bright coloured blouses danced the graceful poi dance. .Is the Royal party passed along from the village, the brass band played the National Anthem and the crowd cheered lustily. Both the Duke and Duchess appeared thoroughly pleased with the curious sights witnessed.