King Country Scenes, and the Waipa Valley.

“The ghost train,” as some wits called it, moved on while its tired company slept soundly, and next morning saw it berthed at Hangatiki station, in the King Country. This section of the inland cruise was designed to afford the business men some idea of the fertility and the possibilities of the northern portion of the Rohepotae—a territorial occupation, by the way, which has lost its point since the old frontier days, but which, like “King Country,” it would be a pity to drop, since it has a deep historical significance.

The good pastures of this upper Waipa Valley and the transformation of the country from a land of ferns and flax swamps to a region excelled by page 36 none for dairying, were the topic of high praise. Of a different quality of interest were the marvels of the silent underworld revealed in a brief tour of the Waitomo and Aranui stalactite Caves. The travellers entered the famous glow worm hall, with its dark river gliding silently beneath the ceiling of fairy lights. They walked through high-roofed caverns of the Aranui, and emerged into the light as into another world. The greatly improved accommodation provided in the new Government hostel, where the travellers breakfasted, was noted with general satisfaction.

Hangatiki, a place of some political importance in the old Maori Kingite days, was as far south as the Commerce Train took its passengers. The next stage was back to Te Awamutu, re-crossing that storied frontier stream, the Puniu River. At Te Awamutu, the go-ahead metropolis of the Waipa country—the western boundary was marked by yon blue looming range Pirongia away in the direction of the Tasman Sea—there was the usual hearty hospitable welcome. At the official luncheon the Mayor, Mr. L. G. Armstrong, and the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, spoke their greetings, and Mr. A. G. Lunn, past-president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, was the principal speaker on behalf of the visitors. Mr. Lunn took occasion to give high praise to the organising ability displayed in the management of the railways.