AUCKLAND-ROTORUA ROADS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15004, 28 May 1912, Page 8

A UCKLAND-ROTORUA ROADS.

A MOTORIST'S CONDEMNATION

KOMJX WHEN WET, UNEVEN WEEN DRY.

"Thb roads between Auckland and RotoJrLTSe' worst I have ever travelled r» remarked Mr. Harold Hennah,, * SstraUan victor, in conversation vnth a motored in YteansD reporter. i J! A 7 WelllnirSe South Island and around the Weiung ton Set, and my experience » that S worst roads in New Zealand are to be ftH between Auckland and Rotorna. Unfortunately, Mr. Hennah made to trip to Rotorua under unfavourable _ci • cuttonceß, meeting with wet weaker SS a powerful car, the journey >hodd not occupy more than 12 hours, but Mr. HeuShTnd party were,2s hours on the road. Leaving Auckland, roads in airly good condition were met with; but the road over the Rangiriri Ranges wa* found to be almost impassable, and at IMS point of the journey it took nearly eoven hours to cover 10 or 12 oik* The car continually skidded, and as the read is narrow and overlooks a deep ravme the motorists were compelled to move cantiously. . ~. „_ The fact that three motor cars had been stuck in the mud on the ranges a few days before did not reassure the party, but they were fortunate in only meeting with one slight mishap. The car, while proceeding along a particularly bad portion of the road, skidded and struck a post on the sido of the road, some damage being done to the body of the car. "From Auckland to Cambridge the roads are very rough and muddy," continued Mr. Hennah. "There is no metal to speak of, and the wheels of the car were continually awash with mud. From Cambridge to Rotorua the roads are slightly better, but are far from good." - Mr. Hennah added that he thought the roads would give motorists just ae much trouble in fine weather, for they are of a very uneven nature. "The absence of metal would not make much difference in fine weather,- but nobody would enjoy being tumbled about on an undulatory road as we were." ■.'■'.■'..■■,' . /