DUNEDIN TO CHRISTCHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9075, 27 April 1908, Page 7

DUNEDIN TO CHRISTCHURCH.

MOTORCYCLE BEATS EXPRESS,

On Thursday, aays the "Lyttel<ton Times," Mi* S. Ste.lrnan undertook to break the motor-cycle record of thirteen hours held by himself, irom Uunedin to Christchurch, and succeeded in reducing the time by three hours eleven minutes. Mr Sted.rnah rode a 1908 model 3£ h.p. 'Triumph cycle, the first of its kind in New Zealand, and yesterday a reporter had a chat and learned something about the journey. Mr Stedman left Dunedin at 6.15 •a.m., and for the fi«fst fifteen miles found the roads wet and greasy, being unable to get much pace oh. 'Oamaru (seventy-eight miles) was reached just on nine o'clock. On the Kartigi beach the cyclist hit a •dog, the accident misplacing the contact-breaker and causing some •delay. Mr Stedman left Palmorston >some time after the morning train, The train was still ahead of him at Wainakaroa, but he managed to get ' -over the crossing before it. There was a delay at Oamaru while petrol ; was procured, and Mr Stedman left there at 9.7, reaching Tiniaru at 11 ia.m. On the road he passed fifteen flocks of sheep and a mob of cattle, which caused further delay. , The train from Oamaru was ahetid pf him •at Makikihi, but he got past it at the next station, "though," he added, "I had to shake her up to beat it." A "quick lunch" was taken at Timaru, and the recordbreaker set out for Ashburton. About a mile out of Timaru the .sparkingplug blew out, and ten minutes were lost while a new plug was fitted. The run through Temuka and Geral■dine wa3 excellent, but about five miles,from Hinis an accident bccurr-' ed. Mr Stedman was wheeling off the road to a small bridgo over a water-race, when the rear wheel •struck a piece of wood and the machine was thrown over. "I. came down a'smasher," said Mr Stedman, "and things looked black for a moment. I thought the game was up.'' The engine was still running, though, ■and the cyclist saw that his chance was not gone. The accident was ■serious enough however, for a pedal and crank were beat, the foot-ivst was twisted, and the foot-brake was thrown out of action. The handle bars were also twisted, and temporary repairs caused another loss of time. Mr Stedman was clothed in leather.and he attributes his compautive safety to that fact. "My kneewas barked and 'I had a bit of a twist." he said smilingly, but he remounted and proceeded. The | Hinds river waa dry, and he went across the shingle, which was very roueh. The rest of the run was .good, and Ashburton was reached at 1.35 p.m. The mnrhine there being repaired another quarter of sn hour • waa lost. On leaving Ashburton a head wind was encountered, and lasted until tne city was reached. Mr Stedman counted forty - six wnttr "races between Ashburton and Christchurch, and came on many of them unawares. The motor was always fit for the road after splashing through them, and beha-ed splendidly a 1 the way. The Selwyn river beo" pulled the belt-fastener out, and a new one was fitted, and Mr Stecman reached town at 4.4 p.m., a total inclusive time of 9 hours 49 minutes for the 265 miles. The actual running time was 8 hours 57 minutes, and the express, which takes nine hours, was easily beaten, while the previous record of thirteen hours was lowered considerably. Mr Stedman arrived in Christchurch without being fatigued, and speaks in high terms •of his machine.