FIRST CAR TRIP SOUTH

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30277, 1 November 1963, Page 11

FIRST CAR TRIP SOUTH

’THE first article of this 1 series dealing with the early motoring history of Christchurch concerned a car made by Mr F. Dennison, a cycle mechanic and engineer of Cathedral square, which made an unsuccessful attempt to cover the distance to I Oamaru. ' That attempt was made during June, 1900, and it was not until November of the same year that a second attempt was considered. According to reports of the times, the first attempt ended when Dennison’s car “blew up,” but the second southerly trip, made by Mr N. Oates in an imported car, was more successful.

The imported European car, owned by Mr Oates, made its appearance on the streets of Christchurch early in November and he must have been egged on by his friends to take the road to the south to succeed where Dennison had failed. It was only about two weeks later that we read of an enthusiastic reception committee waiting for him to arrived in Ashburton about afternoon of November 26. Disappointed One can imagine the eyes searching the road to the north for the dust cloud which would have announced his arrival but the reception

committee “was disappointed as the machine had not put in an appearance when the express left” Evidently the passengers for the south would have been hoping to catch sight erf this new wonder of the age, but car or no car, the express must leave on time. The car, with its driver, Mr Oates, and passenger, Mr Carl arrived in Ashburton at about 7.30 p.m„ so perhaps it was just as well that the express decided not to wait. Ashburton townsfolk soon learned that the delay had been caused by the car coming to grief crossing a water race and that “part of the machine was broken.” Timaru

After a night's sleep, and no doubt a checking of damaged parts, the pair continued south, arriving in Timaru at 8.30 p.m. Their continued fight to be the first to get a car so far south was met with difficulties which would make our hair stand on end today. We must remember that roads were appalling,

bridges not what they are today and repair facilities niL Even a supply of petrol must have posed a problem. The following verbatims report from Timaru gives some idea as to what a struggle it must have been:— “Messrs Oates and Carl arrived at Timaru on their motor-car at 8.30 pm. cm Wednesday. After effecting some considerable repairs at Ashburton, rendered necessary by breakage of main frames by bumping into water-races, a good deal of difficulty was experienced in crossing the Hinds river-bed. “At Winchester another mishap was met with, a creek which proved deeper than expected, having to be forded. The water flooded over the bottom of the car, stopped the machinery and cooled everything down, causing a couple of hours’ delay. Yesterday Mr Oates ran the car about Timaru giving rides to townspeople. Messrs Oates and Carl returned to Christchurch with their car by the express last evening.”