BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 223, 21 August 1939, Page 4

BEAUTIFUL SCENERY

* OPOTIKJ-CISBORNE route ROTORUA AIOTORIST’S VISIT “If it is scenery that anybody wants there is nothing t.o touch it in Australia. Last year I took my car to Australia, and dirove inland from Sydney up to Queensland, back to the coast, then inland down to Victoria, across to Tasmania from north to south, east to west, back to Melbourne, up the coast into Sydney—and 1 have never seen anything to oqua! this particular drive front Auckland to Wellington,” writes Air. A. W. Sand, RotanSTT,~To the Wellington Post. Describing a recent motor tour from Auckland, via Gisborne, Air. Sands said: “Apart from here and there where the roads are being regraded, they are in a wonderful condition. The journey from Auckland to Opotiki—--225 miles—was done comfortably in seven hours. From Opotiki, which I left on the Sunday morning for Gisborne, I motored through the Waio.eku Gorge, and fro-m what 1 hoard from other people, that gorge was a nightmare to drive through. I found nothing wrong with it whatever—scenery was beautiful, grading was good—in fact, I went right through to Gisborne and did not drop below top ge.ar once. Cattle in Poor Condition “I passed several mobs of cattle coming from the Gisborne district, two large mobs in particular j their condition was something awful—nothing but skin and bone,.and I do not know how the animals are going to winter through. In fact, one man left witli over 200 and lest 47 on the way. 1 passed another mob tlie drover had left wandering on the road overnight stretching over a distance of live miles, with their eyes sticking out of their head’s looking for a blade ol grass which they had no hope of finding. There was nothing hut hills, gullies and scenery. •‘The farms .in the Poverty Bay district are very short of feed, and it looks as if they are going to have a hard winter. “Although the weather in Rotorua was very bad when I left, from Auckland right down to Wellington it wasbeautiful sunshine. I left Gisborne" and came through to Hastings. The* road is absolutely 'Wonderful. Very little work going on—practically all done. “When I arrived in Wellington and told people of my experiences, 1 got tlie usual reply, ‘But the road's used to he dreadful.’ Why worry about what we used to got, it’.s what- wc have to-day that counts! It is my opinion that- those people who complain of the roads should not •drive a car—their nerves will not"-permit them.”