A MOTOR TRIP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 463, 23 March 1909, Page 6

A MOTOR TRIP.

FROM AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON. An interesting and eventful trip on a motor car from Auckland to Wellington, via Tarannlti, has just been concluded by Messrs. W. Gardiner, J. Hall, and F: G. Tumor, all residents of tho northern capital. Tho party' woro favoured by fine weather at tho start, but thunderstorms and various causes contributing to delay _ wpro encountered, but there were no serious mishaps, and tho motorists suffered little beyond ordinary inconveniences incidental to' a novel excursion. Moreover, they agree in saying tho magnificent scenery along tho route, especially in tho Mokau country, fully compensated them for any. mischances of tho journey. Tho' three gentlemen left. Auckland on Tuesday, March 9, and arrived at Cambridge in duo course, where they stopped a couple of 'days to see tho A. and P. Show. Then they proceeded to tho AVaitomo Caves, t whero a short stay was inade. ' Tlioy report that the accommodation was very, comfortable. Tho Government aro putting up.-a largo, accommodation house,:which should bo ready for occupation in a few months. Tho travellers proceeded leisurely ;.to To Kuiti, tlicnco over tho ranges to tho Mokau country. .It . was after leaving Te Kuiti that their troubles commenced, for they had no sooner departed than tlie rain began to fall, quickly transforming tho . hitherto passable roads into, something approaching a quagmire.. Stony Creole, almost the only unbridged waterway oil the roiite, was successfully negotiated, and tbon an extremely dense fog was encountered late on the Saturday afternoon. It Was so thick that the members of tho party were unable to see' more than a yard ahead, thus cnusing great delay. They were going down hill, and could only go at a crawling pace on account of tho great danger of falling over tho banks. Avakino was reached at 10 p.m., and a few hours afterwards a heavy thunderstorm camo and lasted all Sunday, forcing tho. motorists to remain indoors. Monday broko bright and clear, and tho party motored a few miles along tho coast, viewing scenery, fringes of bush and beaches, of exceptional ' beauty, Whero tho beach road ended moro difficulties wcro experienced, as it was impossible to motor over soft sand. Boards under t)io wheels were called into requisition, and very slowly the car managed to get over the bad portions. Mokau was reached the same evening, Tongaporutu ferry was safely crossed, and, on excellent roads, good progress was, mado to Waitara. The latter town,was no sooner left behind than another thunderstorm burst upon the travellers, and in a moment they were drenched to tho skin. A bush camp was soon sighted, at which tho shivering wayfarers wero hospitably treated, and, after a change of apparel, the journey was resumed, tho storm having gone as suddenly as it camo. There wero still further misadventures in store, for they had traversed but a mile or so when they ran on to a patch of road top-dressed with clay, and tho car simply , stuck fast_in tho mud. About two hours , woro occupied in extricating it, this being done by jacking the car oil to; timber slabs. Muddy and travel-stained,- tho party , arrived at New Plymouth, and enjoyed a well-earned rest. Tho car was cleaned and overhauled, and the throo .gentlemen camo, on to Wellington by easy stages, none tho worse for their adventures. This morning they intend leaving, via tho Biniutakas, for Napier, at which port tho party will talto ship, for Auckland.