WEEK-END TRIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19822, 17 December 1927, Page 12 (Supplement)

WEEK-END TRIPS.

THE MERCURY BAY ROUTE. The trip io Mercury Bay and return to Auckland may be accomplished over a ■week-end if ifc is not desired to sample the deep-sea fishing for which the locality is famous. Whitiange, the township on the'bay, is about 124 miles from Auckland. Road conditions are such that the trip can be comfortably accomplished in eight hours, including a stop for lunch at H'hames. The Hauraki Plains road is taken at the branch at Pokeno. This intersection is 34 miles from Auckland. The highway is followed through low country toward Maungatawhiri Valley, and Maramarua is reached at 50 miles from Auckland. Some miles further on, the only unmetalled section is encountered. After prolonged rain a few hundred yards may give trouble, but chains are not necessary after a shower. After this gap is crossed a very good metal surface is passed over through Waitakaruru at 60 miles to the Thames-Paeroa junction at miles. The road straight ahead is taken to the Pipiroa ferry. This is a short crossing on a cable controlled punt. Five miles more, and the Kopu ferry is taken. This cross-

Sng is the site of a substantial bridge, which is nearing completion. Thames is ■reached at 75 miles. The remainder of the journey is picturesque. The road follows the coastline almost at the water's edge for the greater part of the 35 miles to Coromandel, Several small seaside resorts are passed and Rangitoto can be seen in the distance up the gulf. At Tapu, about 15 miles from Thames, a clay road may be taken to Mercury Bay, but the longer metal route through Coromandel should be followed unless local advice is in favour of the direct trif# 1 After Tapu is" passed, the road becomes narrower as it winds around the cliffs. The old paddle steamer, Eagle, is-passed where it lies in the Waikawau River. HillclimToing is now commenced, find the road then descends and passes Maiiaia Pa. The main branch to Whiti--BJ)ga leads to the right about one mile before Coromandel is entered. This point is about 34 miles from Thames. Only a small portion of the remaining 14 miles is cnmetalled. A NEW MOTOR PROBLEM. "A Rotorua motorist who noticed that a cheap car owned by a Maori of his acquaintance rarely appeared on tho roads *slced the owner's son what mechanical deficiency prevented general use of the .vehicle. The correspondent vouches for the native boy's reply: "It not very sick. Most of* tho sickness the number plate and a little the battery. He hot get the register this year and you go to gaol if you drive him." A.A.A. ACTIVITIES. The A.A.A. has arranged for continuous information service for its members over tho holidays. The information bureau in Durham Street will be open on Christmas Eve until 9 p.m., and on Christmas and Boxing Days from 10 a.m. until noon. The service officer will be in attendance at the Hamilton Agency, Railway Buildings, on Christmas and Boxing Days. This office will be open from 10 a.m. until noon, and from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. MAROUBRA SPEEDWAY. Sydney's famous motor speedway at Maroubra has lost a lot of money for its promoters in the two. years since it was completed, states an Australian journal. The broad concrete track with its saucerJiko banking cost, with accessories, £42,000. There were good attendances at the first few meetings, but Maroubra is a long way out and the tramway service not of the best. Several months ago the company sold the track to J. S. Taylor, one of tjie original shareholders, for £10,850. Th® purchaser resold to another company, which planned to introduce night trotting; but the plans went awry, and motorracing did not pay rent and interest, even on the much-reduced capitalisation. J. S. Taylor has now bought, the property for £2500. The speedsters are wondering what is to become of the track. When. Australia has a motoring industry of its own it might come in handy as a testing ground, on tho lines of England's Brooklands.