MOTORISTS' TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18316, 5 February 1923, Page 8

MOTORISTS' TOUR.

589 MILES IN NINE DAYS.

FREEDOM FROM MISHAP.

After a most delightful, and in all ways successful, tour to the northern districts, the motorists who took part in the tour organised by the Auckland Automobile Association arc now returning. In all, eight cars from Auckland took part in the run, and three others joined up with the Auckland tourists at Whangarei. The tour, which has lasted nine days, embraced about 590 miles, and despite the bad patches of road that were met with, it is worthy of note that the only mishaps were the breaking of two springs. These breakages were promptly rectified at Whangarei. There was not a tingle puncture during the whole period. The party, which comprised about 30 gentlemen and nine ladies, were making a purely pleasure run. Originally it had I been the intention of the association to organise a reliability trial, but it was soon lealised that to do so would involve a considerable amount of work, and finally the decision was that the outing should be a purely pleasure jaunt. All arrangements in regard to accommodation and petrol supplies were made in advance. The management of the trip was in the hands of Mr. G. W. Hutchison, • secretary of the Auckland Automobile Association, while Mr. P. R. Skeates " capXained'' the cars. Whangarei was the first day's destination. On the second night the tourists were divided ir.to two parties, one stuying at Ohaewai and the others at Kaikohe. An pver greater division was needed on the third night, for the travellers split into three sections, staying at Kaipaia, Awanui, and Waipapakauri respectively. This is the district of the Ninety Mile Beach, and the fourth night brought no change of lodging. On the fifth night, some of the party were accommodated at Whangaroa, and the others at Kaeo. The sixth night, owing to a downpour of rain, saw them still in the same accommodation, but on the following day they got to Russell, and there spent the night. Th© last night of the trip for those who yesterday came right through to Auckland was spent at Whangarei. Two of the eight Auckland cars arrived back yesterday, the journey from Whangarei into the city being done in the excellent time of eight running hours. Others of the party who are not pressed for time did not complete,, the tour yesterday. They stayed , at Whangarei or HelensviUe for the night, and will come on to Auckland to-day or later in the week.

While the party were at the Ninety Mile- Beach, some excellent racing • was done, and the sojourn at that district was certainly not the least memorable phase of the tour. Speaking of the roods last evening, Mr. Hutchison said that some were distinctly bad, and others quite reasonably good; certainly the worst patch was about 15 miles north of Warkworth, when the party were on the way to Mangawai. It rained the whole time from leaving Kaipaia until arrival at Whangaroa. The distance ib about 54 miles, and the road was pretty bad. This seems to have been the only part of the tour where chains had to be used. The party, who stayed at Ohaewai, were entertained by Mr. J. W. Jones, chairman of the local hospital board. At Kaipaia a reception and dance were given by the Kaipaia branch of the Automobile Association. Eleven cars engaged in the journev comprised no fewer than 10 distinct makes.