AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1925, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

EVENTFUL EXPERIENCES. SYDNEY. April J. A remarkable motor-cycle journey around Australia, totalling fit 100 miles, lias just been completed by Arthur \\ . Grady, a young resident of Greinniitle Western Australia) —the first time this feat lias been performed. The journey occupied six months. During liis ride, Grady met with many hands of natives, but was never molested because the cycle frightened them, 'i he unique part of the perlorm.-uieo was that lie suffered no Lyre, engine or chain 1 rouble and liis puncture-repair-ing outfit when lie finished was in the same condition as when lie began, liis machine was a 2;.‘-h.p. Douglas. heaving Fremantle on October Ist. Grady proceeded along the coast to I’roome and from there struck inland ot Fit/.roy Crossing. Tile drought eruditions in the I'ic.roy district were terrible. Creeks had dried up. and dead cattle and horses could be seen everywhere. In this district Grady rede lor a stretch of 2DU miles after leaving one homestead before lie spoke to a human being again. The heat was terrific, ami the holiest day experienced during tlie whole ride was !2<l degrees in (lie shade.

During tlie dash to Hall’s I. reek the going was particularly heavy and on the journey from Hall’s Creek to Catherine, he had inanv experiences. On this stretch In- rail out of petrol and was forced to ride on horseback lor lot* miles m order to obtain a furl her supply. For over 100 miles oi t reckless countrv la" was guided by a native. 11 ha was induced, alter much persuasion. to approach the cycle. At one time Grady ran out of lubricating oil. From stations nearby he obtained some dripping, castor oil and windmill oil. These he mixed and led to the motor-

cycle. The machine appeared to like its new “food” and ran perfectly. Soon afterwards Grady Localise •“hushed'’, rain having washed away the tracks, and for two days lie rode by his c-oin-pa-s. For four days he had to live on clrv rice and raisins. 011 one occasion, in order to cross a river, the depth ol which was up to h > neck, Grady had to dismantle his machine and take the parts across one hv one, ronsssenibling them on tin* other side. During portion of the iournev in Queensland, he hail to cross 3-1 creeks in four miles. When he arrived at Camooweal, on the

Queensland border, the hardest part of liis journey was done. The remainder through the eastern States and across the Continent in a westerly direction to his starting point was uneventful. though never could it lie described as a pleasure jaunt—except, perhaps to Grady. ■

A GREAT EXHIBITION. SYDNEY. April 0. Tlie Royal Show at the time of writing is in full swing. One sees once again the same old figures that have lent their friendly presence to the Hoval..during the long years—the big 1 army of Queenslanders and Victorians, and tlie visiting stock and cattle men from tlie other States and New Zealand. The Show looks to the casual observer very much like all the other Sydney Shows of recent years; lint with the characteristic optimism ol the Society and its officials we are told that it is a record. To lie told that all the animals and produce 'exhibited are a far hotter lot than at the proceeding Show might strike one who can see no dilfcrenco as a delusion: hut it, is a pleasant delusion. An army <H HOOD men or more—far more when account is taken of the hundreds of voluntary workers who are looking after their own exhibits—has been employed in staging the great exhibition—easily one of the biggest Shows of its kind in the world. A wonderful picture of all that Australia can produce, and of the cream of Australia’s flocks and fiords, it makes for a spirit of cheerful optimism that is good for the State, individually and nationally. A little world in itself of feverish, palpitant life and colour, an amazing olio podrida of ail that tlie country produces, 'front prize pigs to prize pumpkins, a welter of noises, running the whole gamut from luirdy gurdies to the roar ol machinery, it has attracted the same, vast crowds as in years past. I