The Truth about Motors

NZ Truth, Issue 1208, 24 January 1929, Page 19

The Truth about Motors

THE COMPLETE CAMPER

Handy Hints Which May Be Helpful To Motorists . . ' ,

- The troubles of campers have been a source of merry jest for generations of fireside critics, who have missed the joy which the freedom of the open road may bring.

S.QMJ3. troubles are half the battle, but variably turns sour. A bag safe, now and again a timely hint from swinging m the wind, keeps it cool and an "old hand" may save a lot of sweet. time and much unnecessary worry. A bran bag makes a very good safe. In his delightful sketches on out- You want two spreaders about tne door life, "The Bush Boys Book," diameter of the bag. Ypu may make Donald McDonald offei-s many valuable them with two cross-sticks bound m tips' to campers, some of which are the centre with cord, and then a pliable quoted m this article. ... green twig, lashed round,' the ends m fry .another section is discussed the the form of a hoop. One of these is various impedimenta which is. Essen- placed loose m the bottom, of the bag. tial before starting off on a camping The otl»3i\ half-way up, is sewn into trip by car! Assuming "then", that you • position with strong cord have ;aIT the necessary kit, and that yoV^have arrived at your selected site, It is 1 a good plan always to pitch the tentloiia le.vel^ surf ace, if you intend tp Bleep: on the ground.'* If it does; hot happen to be level, make "it so. For hefejagain alii the work you give to it Is time' : and 'trouble well spent

The ordinary thin, cheap cotton tent serves very, welt In a summer oamp if you can be sure of fine weather, but If rain comes ft is almost useless without a fly or extra roof. , Select, if possible, a shady, sheltered Bite. ' .-."•... The flrat consideration is to camp Close to a supply of fresh- water. If you have to carry water any distance that means a great deal of labor, and you somehow find at the very moment when you want water most urgently, that the' bucket is always empty. Do not' camp right at the water's edge, or a sudden storm may find you flooded out. Precautions against lire should be one of the first considerations m a summer camp. In this matter you must consider, not your own convenience, bu^t'; the comfort, safety and fortunes of otheir] people. As soon as you begin oampingr, make up your mind that no carelessness on your part will ever lead to such a calamity. If land-owners were quite satisfied that campers would use every precaution against fire, they would not bo frequently object to camps being pitched on their property. ft I.a a good rule to put a bundle of lights kindflrigjfcood into the tent . overnight, lest it should b© raining heavily In the morning. If you want to start a fire after the wood has been drenched with, perhaps, heavy rain, always break off the dead pieces stand end upwards. You will? fln,d them much drier than those lying flat on the ground. L>ook for dry ; bark. Frayed out, It makes a first-rate kindling m wet and, windy weather. ■ : Another good precaution Is to have one lot>:df.'matches packed m a small bottle, iwell corked. . Do not use them until your other matches are so damp that you cannot strike them. The first requirement m a camp is a good tomahawk, not so small as to be a toy, nor so large as an axe. There is a large form of brbad-bladed tomahawk with a hammer head which best serves the purposes of a camp, because you are always wanting a hammer, and this : axe" does for both. ; Have a clear space about the flre so that it cannot possibly spread, and perhnns cause a bushflre, but otherwise do not interfere with the leaves. ......... . . ... Two other things that you will find useful are a handful of nails and a ball of (strong cord. There is absolutely nothing more handy m camp. With a bail- of cord and a little ingenuity you can do most Anything. '•:;,. ..' ;.-• .'■•■:• .';.':'; ' .' ' '.. ' A camp safe is a necessity, for "one of the pests of the bush m summertime is the blowfly. If you pack meat away, m a tin or a box, it almost m