TRUTH ABOUT MOTORS

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 19

TRUTH ABOUT MOTORS

TRAPS FOR THE UNWARY

NORTHLAND IS THE CINDERELLA

The roads of the North Island are something m the nature of a sea pie. All right so long as you keep on the crust, but more doubtful if you dig deeper. .

ALL the main roads of the lower end of the island are m splendid con- : dition, and the progressive bitumenising policy is, rapidly bringing them to a state of perfection. , The picks and shovels of working gangs are rapidly eating the corners off the steep hills, and the miles of bitumen make speeds faster and tyre wear less. Paekakariki hill now holds no . terror for the oi*dinary capable ; driver, and the road through Wanganui to New Plymouth and on to Mokau runs smoothly through beautiful undulating country. 1 The Awakino gorge brings undulations of a different nature. Thirty odd miles of bumps, potholes and subsidences try the driver's patience and the springs of the car tothe full degree. This is really the only rough stretch on the main West Coast road to Auckland. A few rough patches are encountered between Otorohanga and Hamilton, and again at Mercer, but otherwise the going is excellent. To ■ those who contemplate a trip beyond Auckland to the Northland,, in winter, "N.Z. Truth's." advice is, "Don't." Between . Helensville and Wliangarei the greater part of the highwa*y is absolutely impassable, and recourse has to be had to railing the car on the train;- , Further north -from Whangarei, hazardous stretches are also ..encountered, and it is always problematical whether or not cars will get through, especially if there lias been any rain. The Far North roads on to Mangonui and Kaitaia are mostly well metalled, but bends are sharp and careful driving is essential. • . . Indeed, it seems a sad reflection that this, the oldest settled and most interesting part of the Dominion; is the last place to be properly^ roaded. Coming south, again many improvements are encountered. That old bugbear of the motorist, the Mamaku Bush road, where many a shiny and polished car, apple of its owner's eye, has been towed protestingly through the cloying depths of sticky clay, is now as smooth as. an untroubled conscience — J

1 Round about Rotorua, also, the corrugations have been smoothed out of many roads hitherto travesties of the name, and the way of the motorist is tolerably easy. Waikato roads are excellent. Tauranga has still some relics of tracks along/ which Te Kooti trod on the warpath/ and which the county has carefully preserved m their original state. The road from Tauranga to Waihi is a nightmare and requires chains m wet weather. Over the Kaimai hill to Matamata is metalled, but rough and very steep — and narrow. A road this for the skilful driver. The Bay of Plenty highways are good, wide and well metalled. The obstacle for the novice m this district is the famous Motu hill run. The surface is well metalled,, but the going is hard, steep and narrow. It constitutes twenty-four miles of the most difficult driving where the utmost care is^ necessary and the horn plays a continuous solo. On the Gisborne side, too, there are some rough stretches, and a .couple of deep fords have to be negotiated — they are a trap to the unwary.' Wet spark plugs and a hold-up m the middle are no rarities here. The rest of the Poverty Bay roads are good, but the highway from Gisborne to Napier is steep, although of no danger to a careful driver. Here, too, there is one very bad ford that has caused serious trouble m wet weather. Napier to Taupo is also stedp and often causes the radiator to bubble merrily. Ordinary caution, however, is all that is necessary. Napier to Wellington, either through the Manawatu Gorge or via Wairarapa, is good, going. The roads round, about Eketahuna are somewhat narrow and winding, but a good route is now being put through the Mount Bruce area and gangs of workmen are busy. The rest of the Wairarapa roads are m tip-top condition, and over the Wellington side of- the Riniutaka it is a case of roses, roses all the way.