INTERESTING MOTOR TRIP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1353, 28 January 1915, Page 4

INTERESTING MOTOR TRIP.

PALMERSTON TO PALMER STON VIA NAPIER, ROTORUA AND GISBORNE.

[Bv G.H.8.l

Starting one morning at 7 o’clock, we drew out per motor from Palmerston, Napier bound. Not having seen the country before one is in a state of constant anticipation as to what is round the next corner, which adds considerably to the enjoyment of a trip. A short run brings one to the Gorge, and, being early we were loitumte in getting through without meeting anyone. Leaving Woodville the road starts to climb to Norsewwo.., and then a down grade to the Takapau plains, a fine sigh* situated between hills. The plai” 1 - are wind swept and as there been no rain tor eight months the state of the country can be imagined, oat crops about 8 to loin, in height ani ripening oft'. Rape and swedes also a fnuaie. Iu f p.ct there is no leea for the stock this winter. In of a conversation with c se,. : e informed us that slock ,v.,0 going out ot the district by the thousands and that part of Hawke’s Bay would be practically emptied out. Waipukurau la next reached alter a very pretty run down the Gorge. An alter effect of the late earthquake is seen here, two chimneys on one house cut off by the roof. Waipawa uext, the river being lined with willows provides a nice cool run into town. The roads through the whole of the district, from a motoring point of view, are excellent and speed rapid. A run down to Te Ante and along the lake and on to Paki Paki and then Hasting, where we arrived at 2.30. A short run of 14 miles brought Napier into view. Leaving Napier one skirts round the Bluff Hill to the Ahuriri Bridge then away over the Petaue Beach to the hotel. Swinging round to the left a short climb and run down we are in the valley ot the Esk, a very pretty place and very early settlsd as the trees indicated. A nice level run of about 10 miles brings us to the head of the valley and we start climbing. To this point the roads have been perfect but from here we say goodbye to metal. The country also changes and we are among fern and manuka and razor backed hills which gradually increase in height as we leave Napier behind. The view one gets from the top ot each saddle is magnificent, rolling hills as far as the eye can see and such lovely colouring under a brilliant sun. Up and down, each hill getting longer, the township of Te Puhoe is reached lying in a narrow valley. You come upon it suddenly at the foot of an incline. It consists of the usual hotel, store, blacksmith’s shop and a few Maori huts. There had been a sports meeting the day before and the number ot natives seeing it out was surprising. A short run up this valley brings us to the foot of Tetiokura, the worst hill on the run and words will ulterly fail to describe it, sucb grades and hair pin bends. From Napier side the going is clayey, but at the top you run into the pumice which goes right through to the Waikato, in fact, nearly to Auckland. The road at the top reaches the height of 2,550 feet above sea level and the panorama magnificent. The descent on the Taupo side for the first mile is of the nature ol a declevity, and necessitates the use of both brakes and the engine on the low gear. There is a new road being formed here which will simplify the grades, but it is no*, finished. It is a common occurrence for cars to be towed up. The surfaces are very trc-che - ■-as. A dusty ride of three and we reach the top of the Mohake cutting, which is a road cut into the cliff, with barely room to pass another vehicle. Looking down

on to the Mohaka River the idea of a vumble over the side makes one wonder bow many pieces there would be when you reached the bottom. The corner on to the bridge is a very bad one, as the want o! room and the right angle turn means that with a car that was running with any speed the turn could not be negotiated and there would be a bad smash. The climb out of the river is bad, the dry weather and traffic having cut the road up so much, the car was up to the axles and it was a case ot getting out and walking and at the top the road came right back on .is tracks. A solid climb of about 3 miies and then a short run down brought us to Te Harolo, a native village, and then a sharp nse started us up the Tarauga...umu, which is the highest point on the trip to Taupo, 2,700 feet. Shortly after leaving Te Haroto we met a Palmerston car driven by Mr Chas. Adams, who with Mr W. E. Barber and Mr Stockwell, had been spending a week at Taupo. A short chat, interspersed with cheering remarks, as to what we were going to meet, doubts as to whether we would camp under a teatree bush or a clothes line, away we went and a very pleasant run through a bit of bush and then a climb and we had a magnificent view of the country for miles. The run down is about 4*4 miles to Double Crossing aud the first 3 miles you drop 1,350 feet and at one time the road is in view twice below you and it is as bad as the spiral at Raurimu. A short run of about 2 miles and Tarawera is reached, a good hotel well managed and there are also hot springs a few minutes walk from the hotel. A short stay for afternoon tea, which was duly appreciated, and then off again and the uext 10 miles is a very pretty one through bush, crossing rivets and over nice green table lands until the Kaingaroa Plains are reached, 25 miles from Taupo, nearly all level but very bumpy. You pass two small places, Rangataika and Ruanauga, both places petrol supplied. The scenery here is very uninteresting being only pumice with manuka aud an occasional hare or rabbit. There are several big stations here, but they are well off the road. The scenery approaching Taupo in the sunset was grand the conical shape of the hills showing up under the crimson glow was very impressive. The Terraces Hotel was reached at 6.40 o’clock after a most enjoyable day. The trout for dinner more than compensated for the sun scorched faces and tired limbs, a plung into the hot swimming bath and then the blankets was the programme and then lights out.