Page:Overland Journey of the Governor of New Zealand.djvu/33

Rh crossed the Waikato in a canoe, and visited the magnificent alum cave on its right bank, together with the neighbouring geysers. At 9.30 a.m., the party started on horseback for Kaiteriria (25 miles), which was reached at 5 p.m., after a halt of two hours at a hot stream about halfway, where the entire party enjoyed a delicious swim in the tepid water.

Kaiteriria is a small pa on the picturesque lake Rotokakahi, and is one of the posts held by a detachment of the native Militia, commanded here by Captain Mair. The Arawas composing the force are fine young men, well drilled according to English discipline, who have done good service in the war against their rebel countrymen. Kaiteriria is a convenient head-quarters from which to visit Rotomahana (the hot lake par excellence) and other parts of the wondrous lake district, of which no description will be attempted here. The reader of these notes is referred to the books of Dr. Hochstetter and Lieutenant Meade, and to several papers in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. On the 15th the Governor started at 8.30 a.m., and in three hours rode over the hills by a rugged path of fourteen miles to Lake Rotomahana, while others of the party proceeded thither by a canoe across Lake Tarawera. As the Governor had on a previous occasion, eighteen months ago, stayed for two days at Rotomahana when accompanying thither H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, he now remained there only a few hours, re-visiting the famous white and pink terraces, and then returned on horseback to Kaiteriria.