WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 5 December 1930, Page 7

WITH TENT AND MOTOR.

MOTHER CHRISTMAS JOURNEY. j jIRUN TO NATIONAL PARK. mountaineering and fishing tptaiUff warm* *ok the I-RISS.) [By " Trip.'' j (ill Reserved.) i. * Mtricß to readers, queries relating i; nrfor and ar « answered. LSfwbo desire information lor journeys WA will be m»de at Christmas time shoula ££«& to "Trip," P.O Box 1178 Wolenclosing a stamped addressed onXTV return. Queries are dealt with SltU. should be sent some weeks jJaIS tho time of tho contemplated jurmy. With Chriatmas loss than three weelca iTPsy, preparations are now in full pring to the motor-camping holiday. During tb# last faw weeks wo havo nm over » number of tho journeys that take tot little time, which aro suitable for brief Christmas vacations. This w«if we will deal with Tongariro and tie National PaTk, and tho various sidetrips which make this one of tho moat pleasurabla oi North Island holidays, somewhat flffiUw in type to that dealt -with lut WMk. to tho building of th« magnificent Chateau Tongariro, the Utttieoal Fwk was pre-eminently a tamper'» paretos, for only those who mgt it in the various

huts, or camp out in tents could visit it. Some who enjoyed holidays there when nothing but these primitive arrangements were available now lament tl;e greatly increased popularity of Tongariro. However, thero aro still facilities for motor-camping, and special i>rovision lias been made at tho Chateau for campers to have meals there if they wish to do so. Christmas is tho ideal timo for camping there, and, as there will probably bo a record crowd, those visiting Tongariro then sljoulu have a very bright time. Getting There. While thero may be some who aro dis satisfied becauso of the increased popularity of Tongariro, none will regret tho passing of tho worst stretches of road in this area. There has been a steady improvement in these roads for tlie past throe years, and although some of tho side-roads in tho King Country aro still fearfully rough, tho main roads aro in fair order and aro practically all-weather roads now. Being practically in the centre of tho island, Wainiarino, from which immediate access to Tongariro is gained, is about tho same distaneo from Auckland and Wellington, anil can also be reached fairly directly from most parts of the North Island. A visit to the National Park works in well with a round trip taking in Taupo, Wairakei, and Rotorua as well. One of the real advantages of Tongariro to tho Christmas camper with but little time on his hands is that it can ho reached in one long dny, from a great many parts of tho island. It ia a very long and tiring day's journey l'rom cither Wellington or Auckland, but from Napier (via Taupo), Now Plymouth, Hamilton, Palmerston i.orth, and ltotorua, iL is a fairly easy day. All-weather Roads. The roads through to tho Chateau from practically all directions aro in effect ull-weather roads now, although thero are few odd places that may give a little trouble in tho worst of weather. liven tho Waiouru-Raetihi road, which has been the bugbear of motorists for years during wot spells, is jiow in mueh better order, while those who remember the Raetihi-Wai-marino road at its worst will marvel if they coti]<l so© the improvement which motal has wrought. There is an

all-weather voad from any ot the points mentioned alxivo. although road is not always the shortest. or ; instance the shortest route from Napier would bo via the Napier-Taihape road, thenco to Waiouru, Raetihi. and Wainiarino, but if tho weather were at all ball the safest route would bo via, Taupo, for you aro then certain of getting through. There arf. unbridged rivers and metalled stretches on the NapierTaiimpc road, and it is very steei> in places. A very popular route from tho south is through Wanganui to Raotihi. This road winds nljout a good deal, but there are some fine scenic stretches, and you pass through very "interesting country most of tho way. It is well metalled and will give 110 trouble in the worst otQweather. As mentioned earlier, the [mal run in to tho National Park is from Waimarino. Closo to the station a number of roads leading off to all corners of the North Island converge, and there is there a serv complete set of notice boards. Once on the main road to Tokaanu and Taupo yon cannot mistake the way, and the run-off to tho Chateau itself is very clearly marked. Great Outdoors Holiday. l'rior to tin; building of the Chateau only those prepared to cuinp could make ihi.s journey, and every visitor had to take blankets and food in with him. Provision is still niado for campers, but many of those who are 011 a motor- camping tour prefer to take advantage of the excellent accommodation available here, and join in more fully with tho "sports that tiro arranged each day. For those who wish U> do this at moderato cost, there is accommodation in what were formerly the Whakapapa huts, but which havo been impioved very considerably. Motor-campers can camp near the Chateau, and can secure stores or have meals either at a cafeteria or in the hotel itself. Kor tho.so who aro really fit, the walks in this region are innumerable, for Kuapehu, Ngauruhoo, and Tongajiro are all within striking distaneo, and tliero aro many small lakes dotted here and there throughout the parks. Some o] the streams proviso very good fishing, although the region is not yet particularly popular with fishermen, probably because cf its closo proximity witli lokaanu and Taupo. Here in the midst of snow-capped mountains will bo found boiling streamn, blow-holes, and all the thermal activity which occurs further north. ' There are a number ot' huts scattered throughout

tho Park, from which easy access is gained to the different peaks, and although many of tho climbs must be reserved for those thoroughly fit, a holiday at Tongariro provides infinite variety and many pleasant tramps for those whoso ago prevents indulgence in tho moro strenuous pastimes. j . j BUTTERMILK. SUBSTITUTE FOR Oil.. The thrills and hazards of motoring in 1.012 wcro brought vividly to mind recently by the recounting of an accident that happened to a motorist who was driving his Oldsmobile in the deep ruts of a rough road in Alabama. Tho bottom of his crankcaso was scraping the ground, when the drain plug o£ tho crankcaso was knocked out, and hu lost all of his lubricating oil. At the time of (he accident he was thirty miles l'rom tho nearest big town, there wcro no petrol stations on the road and no telephones, so tho motorist walked to the nearest l'armhouKO. lie did not expect to get any oil there, but did find (lie fanner churning. Purchasing six quarts oi: buttermilk, he plugged up his crankcaso again, lillcd it with buttermilk and successfully drovo tho thirty miles to town with the churned milk functioning as lubricant. This wan probably tho first and only time an automobile engine was oiled by the product of a cow. Those were the days of the splash lubricating system, and it is a question whether buttermilk would function in the full pressure lubricating systems of a 1930 car, as to-day's cDiciont systems draw tho lubricant through a fine screen in tho bottom of tho crankcase to a pump, and the oil is forced under pressure through small passages drilled in the crankshaft, camshaft and connecting rods to all bearing surfaces. Hut even though buttermilk would not do tho job to-day, with pump stations on every road, it is doubtful that any owner would ever be called upon to resort to the buttermilk method.