INTO THE BACKBLOCKS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 556, 8 January 1929, Page 7

INTO THE BACKBLOCKS

FRANCIS BIRTLES OFF AGAIN Mr. Francis Birtles left Melbourne on November 30 on a trip into tbe interior, with the object of organising, in conjunction with the Shell Company of Australia, the overland route to the site of the old Burke and Wills

camp at Cooper’s Creek. Burke and Wills are the best known of the early Australian explorers. They set out in 1860-61 to cross Australia from Melbourne to Carpentaria, but both perished on the return journey at Cooper’s Creek. In the rainy season the Cooper becomes an impassable stream, and as the flood waters are due to come down the river at this season of the year, Mr. Birtles intends experimenting with an amphibian trailer which he is taking with him on the trip. This consists of a boat-shaped body mounted on a two-wheeled chassis and drawn behind the car like an ordinary trailer, but when required can be lifted off its wheels and used as a boat.

Mr. Birtles will establish his supply camp at Nappermary, from which poiut he will make for Bourke’s depot. He is travelling in a Bean car, similar to the model which he used on his journey from England, and expects to return iu about six weeks’ time provided the flood waters do not come down the Cooper earlier than is expected. A six-valve wireless set is included in the overlander’s equipment, and Mr. Birtles’s new dog, Yowie, is his master’s sole companion.

A DETOUR

A few motorists who sought to avoid the dust and congestion of portions of the main highway to Hamilton during the ‘holiday found travelling very pleasant by the secondary route through Gordonton. This is an alternative to the last 16 miles from Taupiri to Hamilton, the difference in distance being negligible. There is an all-weather surface and the entry to Hamilton is made near the camping ground.

SINGER’S TRIUMPH

In British motoring circles, the performance of an 8 h.p. Singer car on the Montlhery (France) racing track at the beginning of the year is regarded as one of the outstanding British motor triumphs of 1928. The year’s automotive activities now are being reviewed, and the Singer’s feat is high up on the list of achievements. It will be remembered that the "Junior.” driven by the British motorists, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Deely, travelled 5,671.59 miles in 144 consecutive hours —an average speed of 39.38 m.p.h. At 4,000 miles the average speed was 42.2 m.p.h., but subsequently progress was hampered by ice and snow. The piston displacement of this car was only S4B c.c.