217: Hawkes Bay Tall Skeletons

Like all old stories from the 1800's, none of these can be proven. (In fact the only proof presented publicly anywhere is our femur shaft). But note - he reported this to the government and that's the last of it. Here is one I have never read before.....

HAWKE'S BAY HERALD, VOLUME XXI, ISSUE 5032, 14 MARCH 1878, PAGE 2

LIMESTONE CAVES.

Sir, — Some time back, while visiting Te Aute, I was informed by an old bushman named Tommy O'Brian, who has long resided in the district, that there existed in the direction of Pokawa a number of limestone caves. I found that the people of Te Aute placed little reliance in the statement of O'Brian, and looked upon it as a mere draw upon his imagination. Still to my mind there was something so straightforward and tangible in the tale told me that I determined to test the truthfulness of his statement, and with this object in view, Mr Owens and myself made arrangements with O'Brian to start on Friday morning last on a visit of inspection to the aforesaid caves. At an early hour on that morning, when the majority of the good folk of Te Aute were enjoying their matutinal repose, the three of us started, I must confess not without some misgivings on my part, in the direction pointed out by O'Brian ; and after about three hours' rough travelling we found ourselves in a deep ravine surrounded by fantastically-shaped hills of limestone formation. The principal one of these hills we ascended, till about mid- way from the top. The travelling was bad in the extreme, in consequence of the density of the scrub and undergrowth, but when about the height I have just spoken of, O'Brian said, " You stand there, and I will soon show you cave number one." Owens and I willingly obeyed, and had just commenced smoking when he shouted to us to come forward, as we were right at the mouth of the cave, and true enough it was so, for, within a few paces of where we had stopped, and directly in front of us, was an opening into the hill guarded by gigantic trees. The opening I allude to is about 9 feet high and 6 feet wide, resembling a widely constructed Norman archway. This we entered, and by the aid of matches proceeded about 100 feet, and could have gone much further only we omitted to furnish ourselves • with a supply of candles and lanterns, which we found would be essentially necessary for the investigation. However, for the distance we did go, we "were amply repaid by seeing some of the most beautiful stalactites imaginable hanging from the roof and sides of the cave, but our puny light scarcely afforded us an opportunity of appreciating their beauty and grandeur. So, after consulting, we determined to return to Te Aute, and resume our search in the morning. That evening Aye procured a couple of lanterns, and a supply of matches and candles, together with 100 yards of strong line, and were off by daybreak. Upon reaching our destination we made one end of the line fast to a tree growing in close proximity to the entrance of the cave. We then lighted a candle and proceeded cautiously in our work of exploration, noticing as we progressed that there were a number of lateral openings into the chamber we were traversing, and, as we advanced further onwards, we found a number of broken and unbroken pillars, rendering progress in some places both slow and difficult. This chamber, at about 100 yards from the entrance, is at least 40 feet wide and 20 feet high, forming from the roof to the top of the columns a symmetrically carved arch, from which, at this point, the stalactites are most profusely and singularly grouped, while, still more strange, there is a miniature lake surrounded by pale green shrubs, the whole appearing like a fairy bower overhung with crystal pendants. There are also in this sheet of water several inverted crystal cones, rising about 9ft. out of the water, and measuring at the top say 10ft. in circumference. At this spot we lighted another lantern, and as our line was at its full extent we deposited one lantern at the edge of the lake and proceeded forward, the scenery increasing in grandeur and beauty to such an extent that it baffles my feeble pen to do justice to it. It must be seen to be realised and appreciated. After we had proceeded about 50 yards from where we had deposited our lantern, the chamber still increased in height and width, and on the right-hand side from the entrance we came upon a number of petrified bones, some of very large dimensions, as well as three human figures in a high state of preservation, apparently father, mother and child. I will not speculate as to how they came there, or what was the period of their coming. Near to this group, but on the opposite side of the cave, there are rude sketches of warfare, and, from the countenances attempted to be depicted, I do not think they represent the Maori type of features — that is, of the existing race. From this point we retraced our steps, determined to further prosecute our search on Monday. In the meantime we have placed our discoveries in the hands of the Government, and if you think them worthy of publicity, I now place them at your disposal. —

Duncan Ogilvy Campbell. Te Aute, March 10, 1878.