’Cycling Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 43, 20 January 1894, Page 7

’Cycling Notes

A ’CYCLIST’S TOUR. Reaving Invercargill at six o’clock ®n the 15th nit., Waikaia was reached at 3.30. The roads were very good all the way, the 20 miles between Gore and Riversdale particularly so. A considerable number of school children collected round the unexpected arrival, and an old identity remarked that he had not seen such a crowd in the streets before. Many of them had never seen a. bicycle till then. A stay was made here for about a week, after which Roxburgh was made for by way of the WindingCreek, Pomahaka and T)unrobin. As this road, or, rather, track has not been used, except by horsemen, for a great many years, it was not by any means fit for a bicycle. In some places great holes have been washed out 7 and 8 feet deep. The bridge across the Pomahaka being in a very bad state, a good deal of care was required in crossing. At this time the river was high. Prom this to within live miles of Dunrobin it is tussock}’, and then it is uphill, the greater part of which had to be walked. The road i’rom Dunrobin to Rae’s Junction—about nine miles —is very fair, and downhill most of the way. Had I been an hour sooner in reaching- the Junction I would have had the company of three other ’cyclists to Roxburgh, one of whom was Mr Bastings, schoolmaster, Coal Creek. This gentleman is the pioneer cyclist in the district, and rides a geared front driver. Having done a lot of wheeling, he is ■well acquainted with the roads, and will only be too pleased to render assistance to any tourist. A visit was paid to the dredges and hydraulic sluicing- claims, some of which have an electric light installation, and are thereby enabled to work night shifts. Wild poppies grow luxuriantly along The banks of the river in places, furnishing a novel sight to people from Invercargill way. I had the pleasure •of being present at the Roxburgh Caledonian Society’s sports, where they were blessed with only one bagpipe player, who greatly amused the Juvenile element.

A start was made for home or the sth inst., stopping at Tapanui that night. The road from Roxburgh is very fair, and the distance about forty miles. From Tapanui to Waikoikoi (10 miles) could not be beaten, but the next four or five miles are very bad. From Waikaka Valley to Gore is very good, with the exception of about two miles near Gore. Invercargill was reached about 6.30. Mr Jones, who has supplied us with the foregoing notes, expresses himself as well pleased with the trip. It may .be mentioned that the machine used on this tour was a Humber Star roadster of Messrs Adams. Curties’ make, .fitted with ’93 clinchers and gear ©ise. The machine stood the journey “without the slightest mishap, although it is safe to say that it would be hard to subject a cycle to a more severe test.