THE JOYS OF MOTORING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4460, 30 August 1922, Page 2

THE JOYS OF MOTORING.

LITTLE LOCAL INCIDENTS* The Hauraki Plains, the land of “milk and honey,.” is by no means the paradise of the motorist. Besides tiie usual engine troubles and other breakdowns there is also the danger of being firmly stuck in the mud. Yet the motor drivers who frequent the Plains roads smile through it all, for next day there will be some other incident to make them forget the predicaments of yesterday. This week has so far been a memorable one for the driver of the mail service car between Paeroa and Ngatea. On Monday afternoon the car lefjt Paeroa at its usual hour for its trip via Hikutaia. All went well till the Wharepoa ferry was within sight, when the car began to bump about a little more than usual. The passengers saw ahead of them what appeared to be a couple of large pools of mud, each about 10 or 15 yards long and the width of the narrow road. This, explained the driver, was where it was usual for cars to get stuck, but as he had always been successful at this point, he smiled assuringly and put his machine to it. There was a bump and a creak, and the vehicle went into a huge hole. The engine spluttered .and raced, twirling the back wheels round at a terrific rate, but the car refused to move any further. After a couple of futile attempts to get out, a couple of the male passengers volunteered to get out and push. They did so, and one got rather close to the back wheels, Which were whirling round in the slush. (He spent a portion of the next day scraping a thick coating of mud from his clothes-) Another car was sent for from. Paeroa, but in the meantime a couple of other cars'had arrived, and they, too, gbt stuck in trying to help out the one in difficulties. The car from Paeroa arrived, but could do no good. A couple of horses were requisitioned and at last those in difficulties were got out. It was a busy scene—four cars, a motor lorry packed with furniture, two horses, and a dozen or so. men plodding round in mud, often knefe-deep. The mail car continued its journey three hours late, and ths driver sat down at his tea at 1.0.45 p.m. The next morning was as full of incident as the previous evening, though this time it was very amusing. The car arrived at Kerepeehi, en route for PaerOa, with a full load from Ngatea. At Kereepehi an extra five-seater car was surrounded by a number of Maoris —men women, and children—ten all told. They all wanted to go to Paeroa, and some of the men were already in the car. Another, thinking he would be crowded out, came over to the car just arrived from Ngatea and said. "I book seat.” “That’s your c.ar, Tommy,” said the driver, “we got it out specially for you." The Maori appeared satisfied, and_jwas about to go,.when he stopped"and said he wanted to be in iPaeroa by ten o’clock. “That’s all right, Tommy,” was the reply. “If we can get you there by ten wetf! get you there. If we get you there by eleven, it’s our fault.” Satified, the Maori joined the others in the small flveiseater. Four big men, four women, and a child packed in, but a remaining one was at a loss to know how he was going to make the trip. It was not long before he got an inspiration. He straddled the bonnet, and the well-loaded car went on its journey, the Maori on the radiator waving his cap merrily and smiling triumphantly. Those in the other car enjoyed the joke, more especially when the bumpy part of the road was being negotiated. It was marvellous how the little car got through the bad roads, but the driver, stuck tp it, and the Maori stuck to his “box” seat until the congestion was relieved by a third car several miles along the road.