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Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 19, 18 October 1926, Page 11

An achievement requiring a considerable amount of nerve and skill was accomplished by Mr. R. Rees, when he found it necessary to drive his motor-lorrv backwards for a distance of 22 miles in carrying out a contract to deliver two steep girders from the Raurimu station to the site of the new bridge which is to cross the Tuapak’urua stream on the Waitnarino-Reta-ruke road (states the “New Zealand Herald's” Taumarunui, correspondent). The most convenient method of transporting the girders, each of which is 10ft. long by H tons in weight, was to pivot the ends on to two lorries, backed to within approximately 30ft. of each other In this manner the wholedistance, which included the descent of the Kaitiekc .Hill, was successfully negotiated in five and a half hours. The driver had a stiff neck at the end of the journey. On the East Coast and in the country districts behind Gisborne (says the "Poverty Bay Herald”), there are still inanv good horses of the type used in the old davs for mounted infantry work. There is work for these animals in the pastoral industry which fully warrants their upkeep, apart from the pride their owners may have in their excellent blood. From among these horses it is hoped to mount a satisfactory number of voting men who are keen on undertaking a highly interesting side of the military life. That the training of a mounted infantryman can be higiitlv 'nleresting, and at times is greatlv to be preferred to that of the “foot slogger,” is borne out by the reminiscences ol members of that well known unit, the East Coast Mounted Rifles, now and for many, years defunct. The corps was recognised as one of the most efficient in the country, i