RIHARI HEKE.

Grey River Argus, 14 May 1929, Page 5

RIHARI HEKE.

ONE LEGGED DIGGER CYCLIST / ARRIVES IN GREYMOUTH. Air Rihari Heke, the one legged Digger cyclist, who has a< complished the unique performance of pedalling his way all over .he North Inland, ami is now touring the South, arrived in Greymouth yesterday from Ahaura. Afr Heke. who hails from Auckland, looks a healthy specimen o f his race, and a worthy de cendant of the famous Ngapuhi Chief Hone Heke. to whom he claims relationship. Despite the fact that he is minus a leg. he propels himself along with the aid of an artificial limb wi hout difficulty. Even on some of the rough roads on the West Coast he averages eight miles an hour over a long distance, whilst on a good surface he covers on an average over ten miles an hour. He com nienced his tour of the South Island on April 13th at Christchurch, going to Uulverden and Hamner Springs. and back via Wairau. His next trip was to Kaikoura. Blenheim, Picion ar.d Havelock. His journey to Havelock was made via the Grove, instead of the ordinary traffic route. Air Heke, by the way, considers this route to be very fine from a scenic poiut of view, and that when a good road is put through, it should be a great attraction for tourists. The cyclist journeyed from Nelson via Inangahua to Westport and Karamea. His arrival in Greymouth was somewhat delayed by an enforced stay at Ahaura. Mr Heke leaves this afternoon for Hokitika and the Glaciers, and expects to proceed from thence over the jiass to Canterbury, his cycle being dismantled during that part of his journey.