THE CRUISE OF THE PATHFINDER

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 24 October 1912, Page 2

THE CRUISE OF THE PATHFINDER

WELLINGTON 10 PLYMOUTH

(Contributed)

The objects of the trip described in this article were manifold. It was not undertaken merely for pleasure, though one always looks for a large measure of pleasure on such a trip, but mainly for the purpose of business and experience. Those who took part in it got some business and a whole lot of experience.

The party consisted of three, who, for convenience sake, may be designated as the "skipper," the secretary," and the "shover." The car was with due ceremony christened the "Pathfinder." The "shover" drove her over the Port Hills via Governor's Bay into Lyttelton, where she Avas shipped to Wellington at a cost that made the hair rise, in fact, it was probably more than was charged to bring the car from the Old Country. The writer does not stand for cut prices, low wages or anything of that sort, and likes to get a good price for his own goods; but when a shipping company merely slings a car on and off ship and charges equal to the return fares of five adult saloon passengers it looks suspiciously as if that company either did not want trade or that it is taking advantage of a, practical monopoly. This, however, merely by way of digression. Our first day's journey was from Wellington to Palmerston North, which was duly reached without adventure, except the maiming of a mongrel "kuri," which jumped a fence and tried to stop the car with bark and bite and body. The next day being Sunday we decided to go a-visiting—a-visiting an oldtime friend and adviser in Bulls. The journey was an eye-opener. Rich, rolling downs, stocked with magnificent sheep and cattle, telling abroad the wealth of the owners. THE CONSERVATISM OF BULLS. Bulls again is an old, old township, indeed it would seem that things new are not altogether welcomed there and except for a neat new post office, the buildings, even the bank, look as if the people are loth to part with the relics of former days. They tell you how much better was the quality of the timber used 50 years ago, compared with I that now in usa. Perhaps so, but can they be forgiven for th; architecture of those daysr The ron-! continued from here to Wanganui a^i.in through delightful though steeper country, and in Wanganui we four.?! good peopln (and they were goo.l lo us) still obsessed with the idea that Wanganui was built by an archangel and other towns by mere man. But Y. ;i Ti.ganui advances <vhd is certainly a town to be proud of. IN THE COW COUNTRY. From "Wanganui we proceeded north through Taranaki —Ta;;inaki, laud of cows —and Egmoni ; no.-.a can tell which claims iirst importance. Regarding cows, the "shover" .■:; vs the people milk cows all night and :;.-,*sp all day. Certain it is that the horn of Gabriel itself would not move 'them oil: the road. Egmont treated us well and gave us a splendid view of itself. At Pa tea we spent a night. The skipper deserted u» here—lie had found a friend —and the secretary and "shover" took up their abode in a hotel, where they complained that the menu consisted of chops and mince-pie, and chops were off. An hour or two were spent in Haw era, Eltham, StratTord and Inglewood, and New Plymouth was reached before dark. New JMy mouth—quaint, beautiful, self-con-tained New Plymouth—is now stak- | ing its future on petroleum. It is slippery stuff, but appearances are in New Plymouth's favor, for we were shown samples of the products therefrom, said products consisting of kerosene, benzine, lubricating oils and paraffin. A refinery is in course of erection, and New Plymouth's faith in oil may be justified ere long. THE ELTHAM TOLL-GATE. Returning from New Plymouth we encountered outside Eltham the oldfashioned toll-gate. Here we had to pay 3s for the passage of the car. Toll-gates are still fairly numerous in Taranaki j though in the writer's experience Eltham is the only place that retains them. The party was of a forgiving spirit ar>d cheerfully paid the 3s. What else, indeed, oould one do? But when, after enquiry, it was found the tollkeeper had directed us by the wrong road, the duty of expressing our opinion of toll-keepers, toll-gates, and all responsible therefor, was left to the fluent tongue of the secretary. However, the party finally got back to Wanganui. The roads were excellent throughout, metalled all the way, and the surface on tho vv'hole was good. This fact is_ a great credit to Taranaki, for metal is almost non-existent and has to be brought great distances. No grade that was encountered troubled the Pathfinder ,and the main road from Inglewood to New Plymouth, New Plymoiith to Waitara, and tho main roads round Eltham and Hawera were practically a racing track. —Lyttelton Times, October 19.