DESERT TRANSPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1933, Page 6

DESERT TRANSPORT

iX.Z. BROTHERS’ FAMOUS SERVICE.

LARGEST BUS IN THE WORLD

WELLINGTON, November 27

An arrival by the Makura to-day was Mr G. Nauru, a New Zealander, •willO' with his brother own the famous 650-mile transport service, across the Iraq Desert between Damascus and Bagdad. The two Nairn Brothers were born in Blenheim. They served in Palestine during th e war, deciding to remain there afterward. They started on their transport business in -1910, and in 1921 set up a service between Bey rut and Haifa. Later they gave it up because of. competition. Two years later they started their desert service between Damascus and Bag-, dad. The greatest difficulties .were experienced in establishing the service, and although £2OOO a year is given the Bedouin tribes along the route to keep them quiet, trouble has occurred, and during the Druse rising in 1925 some car s were so badly shot up that the route had to be changed >and a 950mile detour through Palestine and TranG-Jordania' made.

More serious, however,-' than the danger of marauding tribes are the dangers and difficulties of natural, and climatic obstacles. It is all dust in summer and mud in winter, Mr Nairn told an interviewer. The desert is not sand, but either dry, baked or slushy earth. Sometimes the temperature, is •ove r 120 in the arijl sometimes there are heavy floods.; ~n A

“At one part of the year we have continual troubles with tyrc 6 that burst in the heat or break a way. into lumps of canvas and melting rubber, and at other times the cars have to be pulled with a winch cable across roaring torrents along the Beds of wadis that were hone-dry the day before,” said Mr Nairn. “It is not uncommon to have to drive through desert dust storms heavy that the man at the wheel has to have someone standing on the front mudguard to see where the road is. Also. I have known times when the car” ha s had to be pounded along in second gear continuously for sixty miles because of the: deep mud.” Modern six-wheel car s carrying 'fifteen passengers now are used. The brothers •have recently designed; what will be thei largest bus in .the world, and one specially built for the unusual condition's of travelling. It will arrive at Beyrut in a few weeks. The bu K will have eighteen wheels, and will ho driven three axles By a full Diesel engine of 190 horse-power. It will carry thirtyfour passengers, with provision for sleeping. If this enormous vehicle turns out. u ...suopess, and. the staking their whole concern on it, they will put on a fifty-passenger bus. / . Accompanying -Mr Nairn is Mrs' Nairn, also a .New Zealander, - and - their -two sons, eight 'and* five years'of age, who both were born •at Beyrut. ’The two boys, who 1 are both expert Arabic linguists, •will be put to sfiool.d’r-.. Christchurch,' and Mr and Mrs Nairn will vr.etu.ru to Beyrut in February.