WALK ROUND THE WORLD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 141, 14 May 1930, Page 6

WALK ROUND THE WORLD.

ARRIVALS AT AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) AUCKLAND, May 14. Well tanned by the Australian sun, two healthy-looking young men arrived in Auckland yesterday by the Ulimaroa. They are Peter Courtney, an IrisliCanadian, and Leslie Sturgess, an English youth, and they are in the course of a walk round the world. The pair represent the “long and the short ot it,” as Mr Courtney stands 6ft. din. in his socks, while his companion is only sft. 4Jin. Both are 21 years of age. Dressed in khaki, with haversacks on their backs, the pair commenced their self-imposed task at Perth in January; 1928, and travelled across Australia in fifteen and a half months. They estimate that they covered approximately 7000 miles. From Sydney they went to Brisbane and later returned to Sydney. The youths estimate that they have 40,000 miles still to walk. From Auckland they will go to Wellington, and thence to the South Island, and will later leave for America. They do not hope to arrive back in Perth before another six years and a half. The trampers were delayed for nine months by an accident which befell them in Western Australia, both being knocked off a viaduct by a railway engine. Mr Courtney fell a distance of 30 feet, and as a result of an injury to his ankle was over six months in hospital. Mr Sturgess went over the other side of the viaduct and escaped with a broken collarbone, “but this was only one of a number of exciting experiences we have had,” Mr Courtney stated.