MOTOR CYCLE WORLD TOUR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 August 1927, Page 9

MOTOR CYCLE WORLD TOUR.

BRITISH RIDERS. ARRIVE* IN HAWERA ON THURSDAY. There should arrive in Hawera on Friday next two young adventurers who are touring the world on, motorcycles with side-chairs attached, in the interests of the Birmingham Small Arms Company. These two men are Alessr.s B. H. Cathrick and J. P. Castley, the former an official representative of the company and the other a sub-editor on the magazine “Alotor Cycle.” Nothing; in the nature of a record is being attempted, for a very leisurely course is being followed, the idea of tlie tour being to fuldy test the cycles, thus demonstrating the reliability of British models in the* colonies. To date 20,000 miles out of an estimated total of 35.000 have been covered, the tracks ranging from sandy deserts to tar-sealed macadam. Among the countries visited are France, Spain, Portugal, Italy. Austria, CZeolro-Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria. Yugo-Silavia, Balkan States. Java, Australia and Tasmania. After a week’s stay in Sydney, where they received a civic reception from tlie' Lord Alayor, they shipped to Wellington by the Marama, arriving in that city on August 2. . There they were entertained at a Rotary luncheon, followed in the afternoon by a civic reception by the Alayor (Air G. A.Troup). At tlie luncheon tlie two,men, who are thorough sportsmen, told of some of their very interesting and often dangerous adventures. ADVENTURES OF THE TRIP.

While in the Balkans they innocently took a photograph of a bridge, copies of Which were being sold in the town by local stationers for about a penny. They were .arrested at Zemuni as suspected Hungarian spies. Late at_night they were conveyed to prison by two hysterical detectives, who dramatically switched off the lights of the car while passing the same bridge. Called on by the sentries to stop, the driver of the car evidently mistook the command and hurried on. with the result that a shower of bullets was fired over their heads, but they luckily ducked them. Brought to Belgrade, they were not allowed to see the British Consul, and they were kept in prison for the night, but released in the morning. One of the closest shaves they had was at Rangoon, where a huge fire broke out, in which 2000 natives were burned. In assisting to rescue some iof the inmates of bungalows which .were on fire, the Englishmen narrowly escaped being suffocated. 'On another occasion, while going through a railway tunnel, a fast truin' was. following' them, and only skilful driving with their fast outfits enabled them to escape with their lives. These intrepid riders now merely laugh at some of their experiences, and remark that things might have been worse. DOMINION ITINERARY. Leaving Wellington, they crossed to the South Island. At Timaru they were accorded a civic reception, after having been escorted for gome miles to the town by local motor-cyclists. They will leave Palmerston North on Thursday" at 7 a.m. for Wanganui, arriving there at 9 a.m. Theire they will stay the day, and in the evening they will give a short address on their adventures since leaving England 11 months ago. Their programme in Taranaki will be as follows: Leave Wanganui, Friday, August 19, at 8 a.m. ; arrive Hawera 10.30 a.m.; leave Hawera at 11 30 ia.ni. ; arrive Eltharn 12 noon; leave Elt-ham at 12.30 pun., arrive Stratford 1 p.m.; Leave Stratford at 2.30 p.m.; arrive New Plymouth 3.30 p.m. . Early on Saturday morning the riders will leave New Plymouth for the north and will stav the night and the following day at Hamilton. Passing through Pukekohe they are timed to arrive in Auckland at 3.30 p.m. oil Monday. They will he met*at the .southern boundary of the Auckland district by Mr I>. Garton. representing the Auckland B S.A. distributors, Messrs Skeates and White. Ltd., who will escort them to the city. The Sports Motor-Cycle Club is also .sending out an escort which will wait at Mercer. Seven days will be spent in Auckland, the date of departure having been provisionally fixed for August 27. Afterwards they intend to make for South America, to cross the _ Andes from probably no car, and certainly no motor Chile to Buenos Ayres, a trip which cycle, has ever done before.