WOMAN AND HER CAR

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 6, 1 December 1922, Page 48

WOMAN AND HER CAR

by "PAMELA”

A Week-End Trip

CINCE learning to drive I have become something of a motoring enthusiast. Not that I want to get the car out every time I go into the city to do a little shopping. That sort of thing does not appeal to me. But to get out into the open country, where one can enjoy the space, and a clear fairly clear—road, that is a different thing, and so we are looking forward to a good many country runs this summer. We greatly favour a week-end excursion with the highways and byways of this picturesque province. One such we took a week or two ago was particularly enjoyable, for two reasons. The first is that the day before I made a pretty thorough exanimation of the engine. I hate engine trouble on a journey. You waste time, lose your temper, get hot, and probably end by having to walk miles and miles in search of assistance. So I, or the other motor experts of my family, take care to see to a few trifling matters that spell comfort in the long run. Of course the engine drip-pan must be closed tight, so that dirt and mud cannot accumulate, and grease cannot get on to the ignition wiring and cables. We generally have the differential and transmission gears steamcleaned—it is an excellent precaution. I don’t believe in ill-luck. If one is fairly well prepared beforehand, luck is generally pretty good. Punctures and tyre troubles are. of course, among the things one cannot hope to avoid, but one can always have a complete tool kit. It is true that there are degrees of completeness in this respect, but there are just a few things that are indispensable on even a week-end trip. They are a pump and jack, oilcan, and spanners (enough to touch every nut on the car). Two or three adjustable ones would do. It is well to remember, too, that country garages will probably be closed during the week-end, and cannot be depended on. We always take a spare set of sparking-plugs and—of course—an extra set of bulbs for the lamps. We did not overload the car, a small tent, very light camp beds, provisions and benzine, not forgetting several thick travelling rugs—that was all, but it was quite enough, and we saw that everything was packed in the night before. Leaving the garage at noon on Saturday we ran merrily down the Great South Road, with Papatoetoe, Manurewa, Papakura and Drury as landmarks of direction. At the Razorback we made a detour by branching off to the right after passing through the townlet of Runciman. about a mile from Drury. Thence an uphill climb across the dividing line between the Bombay district and Pukekohe brought us into interesting country. On the ridge of the hill overlooking a large basinlike formation stands the little church erected many years ago by the early settlers, and made historic by the plainly visible bullet-holes which remain as a memento of the fighting in 1863. or thereabouts, between the Maoris and the Pakehas. We had a quick run from the city to the quaint little township of Tuakau. 36 miles out. The first settlement was situated on the bank of the Waikato, but the site occupied by the township is about four miles from the river. Old Tuakau was the scene of fighting during the Maori War. From the township we followed the road towards the river, and after leaving the old village behind, the willow-fringed banks of the noble Waikato looked very inviting. Here we chose a shady spot for

our first stop. Afternoon tea was soon made and enjoyed, and after replenishing the benzine and water tanks, and taking a few photographs, we made a fresh start, \ LMOST immediately the road TX crosses t h e bridge which gives access to Onewhero, Pukekawa and other settlements in the Raglan County. Taking the left hand turning after crossing the bridge, we traversed swamp country for some little distance before ascending the steep incline leading to Onewhero. At the summit is an area set apart as a game preserve, and from here we had a charming view of the Waikato, with here and there glimpses of the road we had traversed from Tuakau. From Onewhero the road is for the greater part unmetalled, and should be avoided in very hot weather, A summer shower had fallen just before we reached it, but not sufficient to discourage us, so we pushed on towards Glen Murray. Here the road became more interesting, and after six or seven miles of winding and twisting, it unfolds into a long stretch, until the river intercepts it at Rangiriri, Here we found a peaceful little spot that proved ideal for our overnight stay, and we soon had our tent pitched beside the river, not far from the road. We spent the following morning in visiting the “Hill overlooking Rangiriri,” the scene of so much strife during the early days of the Maori War. After lunch an opportunity presented itself for a trip down the river in a passing launch, and for some hours we enjoyed a delightful run. At various points along the river bank we came upon picturesque Maori whares with little groups of their inhabitants shelling corn or sitting in the sun. The red of the women’s red handkerchiefs and gay colours of the children’s dresses, made a welcome contrast to the quiet green tints of their surroundings. Here and there were canoes drawn up alongside the banks, and as the launch stopped to land a couple of passengers, a group of girls coming down to the water’s edge, sang some plaintive Maori songs. Towards evening the launch turned upstream, and after passing numerous islands in mid-stream, eventually returned us to our encampment, where preparations for the evening meal were soon in full swing. As the return journey was to begin at daybreak next morning, water and benzine supplies were replenished in anticipation of the early start. The return journey on the following morning, through Mercer. Pokeno and over the Razorback, was made without incident, save for a puncture on entering Bombay, Here, however, we were able to procure a hot breakfast at the boardinghouse, while the spare wheel was being fitted in place of the damagedtyre. From the top of Bombay Hill we got a wonderful view of the country lying below us. To the west is the fine background of rugged hills, through which the river flows on its. way to the Heads. Away to the north faintly seen through the morn-, ing haze, we saw the familiar landmarks of Rangitoto and the volcanic cones near the city. A fast run down through Runciman to Drury, and we are again well on our way home, and though the Great South Road is not among the best of Auckland’s highways, we finished up at the garage with everything intact after a most enjoyable run. And by that time we were alreadv planning another trip, one that should take us much further afield.