CENTRAL OTAGO MOTOR TRIP.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17922, 16 November 1923, Page 5

CENTRAL OTAGO MOTOR TRIP.

A SHORT ROUTE DESCRIBED. In view of the fact that the bridges in Manuka Gorge will not be ready for use by the numerous motorists who make the Central Otago trip during the Christmas and New Year holidays, a suggestion has been made that for these who do not wish to take the longer route via Hillend, or risk their necks on the Bullock Track, a shorter route might be found. The one mentioned specifically is that via the old Dunstan road from Woodside, and through Waipori to Lawrence. For the information of those who wish to try this road, Mr H. Turner, who has just traversed it, has supplied the following details to the Dunedin "Star":— After passing through Outram (seventeen miles), the road rises abruptly to tho right at Woodside (nineteen miles). From that point there is a steady rise (a. bit steep in places) for three miles over a good metal road to near the top, then a clay road (still rising slightly for one and a-half to two miles) of fair surface; then about a half-mil© decline, followed by a sharp rise for about a mile, with the road still in good condition on to Traquair (twenty-five miles). At this point a road to Waipori—said to be the best under ordinary conditions—branches to the left; but is not recommended at present owing to being cut up by the heavy traffio for the Waipori Falls power station. From Traquair the road drops steeply to Lee Stream Hotel (twentyseven miles). From this point there is a steep rise to tho top, and after passing the schoolhouse on the right the first gate on the left is passed through (twenty-nine miles). The road now is clay, and not very well defined; and it drops v steeply into the gully with a correspondingly steep rise on tho other side—the surface a bit rough, but quite passable. It is the same on to Lee Flat Station (thirty-two miles), where motorists will take the left-hand gate of two encountered, leading across paddocks to another gate. The road is still fairly rough, and requires careful driving. After leaving the Lee Flat Station care must be used at the top of the hill, where the road branching to the left must be taken over surfaces which are fairly good except for a number of those surfacemen's jokes, the water-tables. Some of these are capable of accounting for a broken axle or spring if not negotiated gingerly, bat fair time may be made on to Waipori (forty-three miles). From Waipori township (with a buck-jumping bridge to cross) the road is a good one—but very steep in places—right in to Lawrence (fifty-seven miles), j This represents a saving in distance over the usual route to Lawrence via. Manuka Gorge or the Bullock Tracft, and may be a mile or so less than I have stated, as there were two cars in the party, and some doubling back was done to help in a series of loishaps, not occasioned by the road. This route may be described as essentially a dry-weather road, as it would be absolutely impassable from the Main road to Waipori in. wet weather. Given dry weather, with no time limit, this route is quite a good change from the other. Good __ time might be made by anyone who is prepared to take risks, but it is a road requiring good engine power, effective brakes, and careful driving; while at the same time it shows a part of Otago not seen by many townspeople. £ rom what I saw of it I do not think I would recommend the .return trip that way. In any case, tourists would probably be returning by way of the Figroot and Palmerston. .... , Finger posts, would he helpful at Woodside, the -gate beyond Leo Stream Hotel, and the branch roads at the top of the hill past Lee Plat Station; also, perhaps, at Traquair to avoid fa© cutup road. .__ RADIAL-ENGINED CAR. > In,discussing tie various new types of cars to be shown at the London Olympia the "Daily Mail" has the following brief description of _quite a novelty in cars, a radial-engined car: This car is so individualistic in design that all preconceived ideas on motorcar principles must be be put on one side in its consiaeration and judgment. In the first place there are no axles in' the ordinary sense, all four wheels being attached to the chassis by levers: which are loaded and controlled, by strong helical springs, so that all four wheels are independently sprung and the displacement of one by a road inequality does not affect the equilibrium of the others or of the complete car. The engine is a five-cylinder air-cooled radial, mounted horizontally at the back of the car. Its crankshaft is in; the vertical plane and is contmtted into the gear-box (three-speed), which is mounted as part of the crankcase. Thus all the shafts in the gear-box are vertical, .and the pinions are horizontal. Built up with the gear-box ft the differential—literally a differential gear on an axle that is not there! The drive from it to the two rear wheels is by means of a pair of shafts, which of course take no stress beyond the torsional stress of driving the car; the load of the the back of the car is looked after much as that of the front by special and independent springing of the wheels.

MOTOR-BOAT BEATS MAIL STEAMERS. The run from Holyhead to Kingstown across the notoriously stormy Irish Sea has just been completed by a motor boat in 2 hours 10 minutes for the 65 miles, half an hour faster than the speediest mail boat service. The successful boat was Onward IV., the 40ft hydroplane which distinguished itself at the Monaco . International Motor-Boat Baces. She is an ex-naval coastal motor-boat,*one of the hundreds designed and built oy John I. Thornycroft and Co.* Ltd., for war service, and since converted for private cruising... The arrival of the boat caused much interest in Dublin Bay, which' was intensified when it subsequently gave some demonstration runs at high speeds. Many similar boats are being acquired from Thornycrofts by foreign Governments or trading companies for naval or inspection service, for which their high speed and excellent seaworthy qualities render them invaluable. HAVE YOU THE "WHITE" TBTJCK IN ACTION* Have you seen it climb with a heavy load on a poor road surface? Have you seen it pull out of a river bed fully loaded with shingle? If you have seen the "White" operating under really difficult working conditions yon will begin to appreciate why it is that in spite of its higher cost more aad more "White" Trucks are to be found wherever road-haulage is operated for profit. In all parts of tho world tJ» J'White" Truck has proved its undoubted superiority. In low upkeep cost and its capacity for long service. We want you to know all about this truck. Write to-day to Newton King, Ltd., New Plymouth, for big, £xet y illustrated catalogue. 4