HOLIDAY MOTORING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1629, 21 December 1912, Page 12

HOLIDAY MOTORING.

ROUND AND BEYOND WELLINGTON HINTS IN SEASON. PERILS OF THE PEDESTRIAN. (By Amphius.) A holiday, suMhiue, warmth, and a motor-oar —what moro can ono ucedP "Somewhere to go, forsooth," says tho Wellington motorist grown tirod of tho Hutt road. Truly there aro few motor trips about Wellington, and hardly any that do not foroo ono to corno back tho way they went. It is hard to evado tho Hutt Road, and cxcopt that it enables ono to "let the car out" it is'not in itsolf attractive. . However, the roads round about Wellington are, on tho whole, in a fairly good condition for motoring. Tho receui warm weather coming after so much rain has, of course, dried tho roads quickly, with the result that the small loose stones havo worked out and bestrown tho surface. At this timo of the year this is tho rule. Motorists wall do well to remember this, and provido themselves with spare tubes before setting out, for 110 matter how now the tyro thero is always tho chanco of one of these email, sharp stones doing damage. Trips Round and About. Local motorists who wish to go out for tho day, or for half a day, havo not a great number of pleasure routes to choose from. The configuration of tho land round Wellington is not adapted for motoring for pleasure. On a fino, calm day tho drive round tho various bays is always pleasant; the speed lover, huwover, had bettor go elsewhero it he has any regard to his own, and other people's, safety. But for a quiot drivo the round trip via Oriental Bay past tho Patent Slip, to the Miramar wharf, round tho Defonco Reserve to Seatoun and back through the tunnel to Lyall Bay and Island Bay is hard to beat,' and makes a comfortable afternoon's drive. If Island Bay is reached before one wishes to return, instead of turning, one may go on and como up through Happy Valley and come lack to town by way of Brooklyn. This drive may' be extended even further to make a duy's trip. Instead of coming into town from Brooklyn, branch up Folhill Gully and come over the Karon tunnel on to 1 , the main .ICarori Road, and thenco up the Makara Hill, ■ over the hill to tho Makara Road,, until one comes to the cross-roads at Takapau. Here, instead of branching off to Makara, go across the small bridge and up the Ohariu Valley to Johnsonville. Tho surface of this road is quite good, and tho drive a very pretty one. There are several sharp turns, and big cars need to go warily. Coming out at Johnsonville, there are but the two roads into Wellington— the usual one through tho Ngahauranga Gorge, or tho one through Ngaio, which meets tho Hutt Road via Ifaiwarra. This is quite the most variegated trip for local motorists who go out simply for a spin, and for visitors it is the most interesting, as it gives ono an excellent idea of "the general lio of the land." But perhaps the most attractive point of this drive is the fact that one does not rctraco one's steps, so to speak—the road is fresh the whole way. ' . Beyond the Environs. As for tho roads up-country, they -are also reported to. be .in good condition. The Palmerston Road is quito as good as ever, with the usual amount of loose stones 011 it—especially on the Paekakarilci Hill. But from thence onward the road is, good, and one gets a chance of "letting her out." But if tho "letting her out" is between ■ Paekakariki and Levin, one may do well to'bear in mind the fact' that watercourses are nasty things to come across suddenly, and' that thero are watercourses across that particular stretch of inviting road. From Palmerston on to Wangauui is also .fair going, with tho exception of a, few stray patches of new

motiil, which must bo countod an tho core which pura with tho applo. On tho oilier milo, 011 routo to Masterton, Wooilvillo, and Napier, tho road is iti first-cl.iKs order. Tho Jtiinutaka climb is us good 11 h can bo expected, and better than it usually ia; once over tho hill as far n.s J'nliinlmi 110 road troublo neod bo anticipated. At l'ahiatua one is advised to inquire (at tho garago) tho by-roads that enable ono to mako a detour so as to oscapo tlio now metal and shingle on Iho main road tlioro. Past that, tho way is again clear to Napier. But, altogether, both the main roads aro in good condition, and should afford tho motorist oxoellont opportunities if tho weather holds good. Perils of tho Podostrlan, As is usual at this timo of the yenx, tho traffic in our streets is somowhat congefitoi at times, and tho increased numbcr of pcriistriiui and motor traffic makes it nocossary for tho strictest caution to bo observed, both by drivers and pedestrians. Mr. R. I'. Hcnrno in a reccnt number of tho "Strand" Magazine, very aptly points out tho perils of the pedestrian, and the following suggestions aro extracts from his articlc 1— "If the pedestrian could conduct his affairs without requiring to plunge into the stream of traffic which fills tho roadway thero would bo an immense decrease in tho number of street accidents. Failing that, if ho would but lcam how to cross tho road in a sensiblo manner the improvement would bo marked. But tho average pedestrinn is a conservative and thoughtless person, with a i>oot judgment of speed,-mid with a ridiculously inadequate estimation of tho value of his own lifo at times. To save a few useless moments he or she will dash madly into a maelstrom of traffic, and there will flounder in, a manner most calculated to cause disaster. How to Cross a Road. "Most accidents," he says, "arise when pedestrians oross tho roadway. A good deal has to bo learned yet in the nrt of crossing a busy thoroughfare, but the following suggestions may help to bring about an improvement. Let us first take' the case of a side-road intersecting the path of the pedestrian. Here he must of necessity step on to the road and c.ut through two streams of traffic. He should not pursue a course at right angles to vehicles. Tho great danger is of b?ing run down from the rear, or from the side, when he is looking in the other direction. Henoo his first care should be to partly face the line of traffic nearest to him, and not be content with a hasty glance over his 6houlder. "In crossing a main road from one kerb to another the foot passenger should also follow tho double ciblique course, so as to be always partly facing tile oncoming stream. of traffic:'. If; after reaching the centre of the road, a sudden influx of fast vehicles on each side threaten him with destruction, the safest plan is to stand .still in the centre. Drivers are only too anxious to avoid an accident,' and if they can be sure of the pedestrian's intentions, it is easy for them to steer a safe course. Matters would be simplified if it became generally understood that in the centre of every roadway there existed a three-foot-wide zone, in which pedestrians would stand until a cleaT passage offered. "Masked" Vehicles. ' "Another serious danger arises from one vehicle 'masking* anothor. It usu-ally-occurs at tramcar halts. One tramcar stops in mid-road and its passengers alight; Some make for the near-side pavement and get across with little risk. Others Visli to attain the other side. Their, usual plan is to dismount from tho tram and dash round by tho back of this vehicle. At tliat moment another tram may be. bearing down from the opposite direction. Its approach and its signals are alike masked by the stationary tram, and a passenger may dash right into it when he loaves''the shelter of his tram. "111 crossing, the road behind a stationary tram/ the: utmost caution must be exercised. Before leaving the tracks it is wise to walk back five or six feet from it, and then look forward along the other track. A clrar view cau ..thus be had of any approac-hirig'tram;6r othesr traffic."