MOTORING BY TAUPO.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 July 1925, Page 10

MOTORING BY TAUPO.

ICICLES ON THE CAR

HAWERA MOTORISTS* EXPERI ENOES.

Miul measurin'; feet n dcpili, aml cokl s<> severe that icicles formed on their car, were conditions which, thice Hawera motorists had to contend wtt-h in a trip through the centre or tt>e island last week-end. The journey occupied in all only three and a halt dav.s, but during that time the travellers had some interesting experiences. Leaving Hawera at 6.40 a.in. on Triday, had breakfast at Lie--11111 and lunch at Rio Pip, arriving at Hamilton at 4.15 p.m. The road Wax' cased during the day was in good order, except 'tor a small stretch between i.Hoiolnuiga and Kihikihi, but repairs which were then being carried out snould bv now have been elite ted. Trie road between Tongapot utu and Awakino was found to be really good. Leaving Hamilton at 11.30 a. lll. the following day, Titan and Lichfield were passed through on the way to Taupo. It was between Putaruru and Lichfield that tlie worst piece of road experienced during the whole trip was encountered, but inquiries made after it wa s too late* elicited the information that motorists should take what is known as the back road from Putaruru 10 Lichfieid. They were informed that 011 the back road the mud was “only two feat deep.” while on the other it was “bottomless.” From Lichfield via Atiainuri to Taupo the road was in good order, and on a clear, frosty day .such as that experienced the atmospheric conditions but added beauty to tno scenery. At Taupo the travellers declared the night to be the coldest thev had cxpieienced. They stopped at Wairakei. and during the evening viewed the Kerapeti blow hole, the intense cold causing huge clouds of vapour to ascend to. a great height. Returning to the hostel, the travellers joined the circle round the fire, and joining in the conversation were not long in discovering that their fellow-guests were visitors from countries scattered all over the globe. It is interesting to relate that two were Americans, one an Australian, one a South African, three New Zealanders, and the remaining two an Englishman and his wife. The American in particular wa s very emphatic in his pronouncement .of the good time he had had in New Zealand, and said he was going back to America to boost this country. BOILING WATERS FROZEN. Setting out from Wairakei early the next morning, the party found that the air cut like a knife. It was sL cold that at the breakfast table they had had to take halt-aii-inch of ice off a jug of milk. The country was white with frost and the ground frozen hard, while splashes of water on the windscreen turned into ice. Half a mile had been covered when the water in the radiator commenced to boil furiously. and v'.n investigatilm it was found that the low temperature had caused the contents of the honeycomb to freeze, thereby checking al| circulation. The radiator cap was unscrewed and a iet of boiling water which gushed out fell over the bonnet and mudguards of the car, mid In a few moments turned into ice. Water that dripped off’ parts of the car underneath formed icicles , up to four inches in length. Continuing on to the outlet of the Waikato river at Lake Taupo, the party gained a glorious view of Mounts Ruapehu, Nguruhoe and Tongariro, resplendent in their miintk s of glistening snow. The travellers left Taupo earlv on Sunday morning, and drove over a frozen road practicall.v all the way to the Taraswera Hotel. Six or seven of wild horses were encountered mi the Rangitaiki Plains, and the party got within 100 yards of one bunch of eleven which was grazing about 200 yards off the road. An investigation revealed the usual type of wild horse, hut several looked as though they would make useful hacks (providing always that they could be caught). When surprised the animals galloped away, a stallion remaining in the rear to protect his mates. It was stated that the severe cold had made the higher levels more barren than usual, and consequently the horses had come clown on to the plains in greater numbers. BARREN PUMICE LANDS.

A good cleaj has been written regarding the possibility of bringing the waste areas of the centre of the island into profit, but two of the party, who were practical Taranaki farmers, said that it appeared to them' impossible that the pumice lands between Taupo and Tarawera could ever be brought into production from a farming point ot view. They said that the country locked bare enough at any time, but in winter time, when it was covered with frost it wa s nothing more than desert. Pine trees (pinus insignis) were the only form of plant life that seemed to nourish.

After having lunch at Tarawera, the Taranaki ans set off over the high'hills to Napier. From Taupo to Ta raver a the pumice road surface \va s found to be good, with the exception of one stretch on the Rangitaiki swamp, which in wet weather was impassable for cais. h rom larawera to Napier the road was in good order, but, although the surface was metalled, there were one or twio places that required care. The partv met with a notice erected bv the Hawke’s Ray Automobile Association, “Drive lor the next 47 miles with the utmost care.”

I he trio from Napier fo ITawera was completed in a day. the South Taranaki town being reached on Monday nhdit alter a distance of 071 miles had been <i:vered. fn the run homo the worst niece ot mad was encountered between I ukipaki and Waipawa, hut from Wairniua to rlawera the road was excclle nt.