A LONG TRAMP

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1933, Page 7

A LONG TRAMP

AUCKLAND TO DUNEDIN AND AND BACK. TWO MEN REACH CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 23. Bronzed and fit after completing the first lap of a 2C<X)-mile walk to Auckland and back, two young Duneclin men arrived in Christchurch yesterday. They are Messrs P. Gowland and L Randle, botli aged 24, who are coming to grips with the problem of unemployment in a courageous and nove. fashion. Carrying packs of about 70 pounds each, they intend walking from here to Picton, and from Wellington to Auckland via the West Coast, returning by Rotorua and Napier. Mr Randle, who is a chemist by profession, carries photographic equipment, and Mr Gowland, who is keenly interested in journalism, is keeping tile diary of the trip. They hope to secure onip.oynient as a result of their effort, and a book, illustrated by the photographs takeit 011 the road, is also a possibility. Mr Gowland, who describes himself prosaically as a clerk, lias had a much more romantic career than that term would suggest. He was five years at s ea after training on the New Zealand Shipping Company’s training ship Devon, and holds a second mate’s* certificate. He has been seven times round the world, covering each of the four recognised routes. They have covered the distance from Dunedin m nine walking days, ana they expect to arrive in Auckland about three weeks from now. They are doing their own cooking, and camping by the wayside, carrying an eight-foot bell tent with them, On Tuesday they camped at Templeton, and they intend leaving Christchurch or Saturday or Sunday, following the coast road to Kaikoura.