A RECORD RUN.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17748, 27 April 1923, Page 7

A RECORD RUN.

"ROADLESS NORTH" CONQUERED.

The multifarious duties of the Public Works - Departim nt include the supervision and inspection of all Government buildings, in which category also come the St. te so. ools, for the purpose of guarding against fire risks. It is in the latter connexion that ail inspoetcr of the Deparinient, .Mr C. A. Juriss, has just made a conplete circuit of the North island by motor-car, m.iking innumerable calls ou and otf the beaten track. The journey was accomplished, says the Wellington "Times," in half Iho time that it would have taken to do it by rail, coach, and' mi; tor, and at an exceptionally low cost. It is estimated that had tho journey been made by tr in, c ach, and motor —many calls and msp'-Cti ns were many miles away from the railways—it would have taken at least six months, and travelling fares alone vould have exceeded £loo. As it is, the trip took less than three mo .ths, the cost of running the car was 3jd per mile, i cl .d ng repairs, petrol, tyres, etc., and there is the saving of the officer's salary and travelling expenses for the other tlire© months.

It was in 1919 that the department purchased the car, a Ford, and up to the end of last year, it had already been twice round the South Island and once round the Noith Island for similar purposes. In one complete year, in which the mileage and cost were recorded 6566 miles were covered at a cost of £125 Is 2d. The inspectional tour now recorded was commenced in mid-January, and Wellington was reached again on April 6th. The first part of the run was from Wellington over Paekakariki to Palmerston North, Woodville. and Napier, and business there completed was continued to Ta po. From Napier the route was via Glengarry Cutting and down a steep descent into Maori Gully, and thence past Rock Station to Taupo. The next part of the journey was via Atiamuri to Tirav' and then to Cambridge and Hamilton, taking a course -westerly to Rotorua. The Itangiriri Hills had to be climbed between here and Auckland, and Mr Juriss was fortunate in just missing a torrential downfall which would have held him up for some days, as the road is impassable when wet owing to its clayey surface. The 733 miles round run north of Auckland were hard going, 'but were accomplished without incident, except for slight engine repairs which were necessitated at Kohukohu. On returning to Auckland Mr Juriss commenced the return journey to Wellington, passing through Hamilton, Te Awamutu and Te Kuiti and thence across to New Plymouth • apd Stratford. Prom Wanganui Le travelled to Foxton and thenoe back to Wellington. The record of the run is as follows: —Miles run, 2483; petrol consumption,, 147 gallons; oil, six gallons; grease, 41bs; repairs to car, £3 12s 2d j Consumption, 16=1 tmiles pe!r gallon; cost per mile, SJd. This is exclusive of garage charges and the cost of ferrying the oar over rivers on a few occasions, but if these are included the cost barely exceeds 4d per mile. Mr Juriss, who drove the car, was absent eleven weeks. The front tyres are the same ones that he started with, but two new ones were put on the back and were practically in perfect order when he reached home. It is also worth recording that not a single puncture occurred right through the run. The car has since been doing district work.