CAMP AT HASTINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1927, Page 14

CAMP AT HASTINGS

One of the prettiest motor camps in New Zealand is being established at Beatson 'a Park, about a mile towards Havelock from Hastings. It is being promoted by the Hastings Borough ■ Council, with Mr. Adams, the caretaker of the nearby Cornwall Park, in charge. Mr. J. E. Creeds recently n Is use of the camp, and he speaks in glowing terms, both of the site and of the treatment accorded by the neighbours. 1 The spot is wooded with willows and poplars, these providing shelter for both cars and tents. A ■ beautiful stream runs through, ahd there are swimming baths, dressing sheds, , and other conveniences. Artesian water is being supplied by the neighbours, butwater is to be laid righj on to the camp. '■'„'.'

The keenness of the people to get the camp thoroughly established is indicated by the fact that at present they make no charge for milk, and have gone so far as to offer the use of their houses when the weather conditions ■are bad. This is certainly the spirit to attract the touring motorist. Hastings is the centre of one of the finest districts in New Zealand. The climate is a splendid one, and within easy range of the town'are resorts of every kind that apeal to the holiday-maker.

In anticipation of heavy, motor traffic to Canberra when the Duke and Duchess of York are on their special mission in connection with the' opening of the first Federal Parliament in the Commonwealth's new capital, the Royal Automobile Club of Australia is compiling information regarding routes, camping grounds, parking regulations, catering, and other details, including

scenic tours within easy access of the town. Accommodation at Canberra will be very limited, so arrangements have been made at Queanbeyan for camping space for about 1000 cars at the showgrounds and park, both .of which are in the heart of the town and well sheltered. A Sydney catering firm will provide meals on the spot, and light, water, and other conveniences will be laid on. Similar action is being taken at Canberra itself. It appears that there is quite a selection of go>_? tourist trips radiating from Canberra, from 50 miles to 200 miles in length. Some of the roads, however, are not of the best.

A very much overdressed lady of uncertain years was pushing her way through a crowded stand,- her face made up in truly wonderful style. Due to the heat of Olympia and her exer : tions, some of the paint was beginning to run down her face. A little North Countryman looked with awe and clutching his pal, exclaimed in a stage whisper, "E, lad, I wonder who her coachwork's by?" .-..-•

The International Association of Eecognised Automobile Clubs, held in Paris in October, ratified the agreement between the Automobile' Club of America and the American, Automobile Club Association: Under the terms of this agreement the Automobile Club recognises the association as supreme authority in all racing matters in the United States, and the association agrees to accept the club as its sole representative on the international body, ahd)entrusts it with the task of submitting American records for international recognition. The practical | outcome of this agreement is that many American speed record's will immediately be submitted for international recognition. Ho changes are likely to be made on short or very Jong-distance records, but for distances of 100 miles up to 500 miles it is certain that- the' present figures will have to be revised. There are no" conditions in EuVope corresponding to the fast wooden tracks of America. It wil be a satisfaction to all interested in racing to know that there are no.longer two sets of world's records. The claims, whether coming from England, France,.- Italy, or the United States, will be submitted to one central body, which alone willhave the right to put the stamp .of "world's best" on them. Another advantage is that racing rules will be made uniform the world over.

Another map has been added to the budget of useful guides published for the Auckland Automobile Association. It is a counterpart to the detail map

dealing with trips and camping spots within 40 miles south of Auckland. The new map deals with 40 miles to the north of the city. . New Year's Day brought W pushcyclists of Christchurch under the laws governing other vehicles. They will have-to obey the' points policemen, the rules of the road, stop cutting in, and 'cutting corners, and generally makinga nuisance of themselves. Germany is waking up to the desira-. bility.of'encouraging the motoring tour-' ist. It has just been decided to devote a sum of 65 million marks to the reconstruction of the roads in the Black Forest. It is promised that every road in. the region of the Baden League shall be rebuilt on modem lines and rendered; suitable for automobile traffic. Other districts might well follow suit, us the roads in northern Germany have become very bad. ■

Variable cooling is a desirable feature of the modern car, and there are times when much, efficiency is, lost through running at low temperatures. There are numerous cars which control their radiator temperature with thermostats in the circulation system. Three, famous makes use radiator.shutters in conjunction with thermometers. An English inventor has now patented a device for controlling.the pitch of the fan blades and so altering the draught. Official registration figures for . the year ended 31st August, 1925, have been released by the British Government. They show an. exceedingly healthy growth. The total number of motor vehicles registered is given as 1,690,-, 000. This is an increase of 180,000 vehi-, cles over the previous twelve months. Of the total, 630,000 are motor-cycles. Even eliminating the motor-cycle registration, Great Britain for the first time has touched,the 1,000,000 mark.