BARROW-PUSHING

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 283, 27 August 1935, Page 2

BARROW-PUSHING

Lukey and Schofield at Wanganui

AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON

Dominion Special Service.

Wanganui, August 26.

Twenty-two days out from Auckland on their long trail southward, New Zealand’s most 'ambitious barrowpusher and New Zealand’s most stoical barrow passenger, L. G. Lukey and J. C. Schofield, speeded into Wanganui this afternoon mid slid to a stop with screeching brakes in the middle of an admiring crowd. They have now endured 360 miles, and by the time they reach Wellington will have pushed and been pushed over 500 miles. The barrow. once immaculate with footrest, air cushions and backplate for the passenger, shoulder harness and rubber grips for the athlete at the back, aud hooter, lights aud brake for their greater safety and avoidance of traffic breaches, is now showing signs of having made wheelbarrow history, and is almost a museum piece. It is covered with signatures, and the brake has been relined.

With only another 140 miles to go and nine days in hand, Lu key is ahead of schedule. To bring the distance over--500 miles he made a detour to New Plymouth, then from Eltham to Kaponga and Manala and back to Hawera. He has averaged 16 miles a day and yesterday made a record of 26 to Maxwell. This was the only time the lights have been used, a mile having been traversed in the dark. Except up hills lie has maintained a good walking pace of four miles an hour, and has not tipped Schofield out once. Lukey has lost no weight and the passenger six pounds. Lukey is still wearing the sand shoes in which he started. Schofield, however, wore his through by pressing against the footrest, which is very worn. Lukey also wore his trousers through. Lukey is enamoured of wheelbarrow pushing. “Which is the better, cycling or pushing?” he was asked by “The Dominion.” Lukey, who last year riffle from Auckland to Wellington in 36 hours, replied that wheelbarrow pushing was a great holiday. He said their marathon had created great- interest and they met with bewildering hospitality. To-morrow they will set out for the south and Wellington, where they expect to arrive on September 4.