A GREAT MOTOR TRIP.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1929, Page 8

A GREAT MOTOR TRIP.

1200 MILES IN SIX DAYS. At 0.1.1 a.ni. on Monday last a liig Buick sedan started out from Wellington. for a round trip of the North Island. At the wheel was Miss Valmai Morgan, a young New Zealand girl, and she had as her companion Mrs R. D’Ernste. Miss Morgan is hardly the type one would expect to see taking on such a trip over all conditions of roads in the middle of winter, yet 1 hour 29 minutes after leaving Wellington she had negotiated the Rimutaka hills and drew into Masterton The average speed for the 65 miles thus being 371 miles per hour. After a cup of tea Miss Morgan and her companion were off again and had an uneventful run as far as Waipawa; from there 1 o Napier a heavy fog was encountered. Monday night was spent in Napier and on Tuesday morning they were off for Taupo. From Eskdale right to Taupo fog was again encountered, greatly reducing speed. “This road has a good surface," said Miss Morgan, “but is a very dangerous one, with a tremendous number of pretty sharp bends." Tuesday night was spent at Taupo and on Wednesday morning a start was -made for Rotorua. “Three miles from Wairaki we met our first trouble. Here the road was. a sea of mud and it was raining hard. There was throe miles of this mud and it took us 1 hour 40 minutes to negotiate' it. We were somewhat tired when we reached Rotorua. However, after a good night’s rest we wore ready and eager for the final stage of the journey on Tuesday. It was still raining though and we had this to contend with i-ight to Otalmlni, but the Buick behaved, splendidly and took the Razorhack en top. Indeed, most of the hills were done on top gear and wo did not find it necessary to change gears very often on the whole trip." Auckland was readied on. Thursday evening, the actual running time being IDA hours, which must be considered as ext renudv good when the adverse conditions are taken into account. The next stage of the Journey was To Kuiti and an inspection of the Waitinno Caves then on To New IMyiuoutn on Saiurdav.

"The roads from Hamilton ,t.i New iMy mouth wore badly pot hoiml ” said Migs .Morgan “and in some -places our speed would not exceed H) miles per hour. This was a short trip but, we've made ,up for it since. .It’s a long run. from 2sow Plymouth to Wellington but wo knew the road well from there and expected to make good time."

Miss Morgan’s anticipation was correct for she .reached Wellington a little after 7 p.m. on Sunday evening, ihe running time for the return trip from Auckland being IS| hours. Dur-

ing their stay in Levin on .Sunday the motorists were entertained at afternoon tea. by Mr and Mrs D. von Bartit sell.

Tliis is midoubtr dly the greatest six days’ motor tour ever undertaken by a lady in New Zealand. Miss Morgan was at the wheel for four days and her companion Mrs 1) ’ ldrisst<> drove for two days. Asked if she was feeling tired. Miss Morgan answered, "No, but, my eyes are sore." Certainly she looked very lit and did not show any sign of outwaid fatigue. The whole trip was accomplished without a single' modi; nieaj adjustment or a ] e:u lure.