A HOME ON WHEELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20362, 17 September 1929, Page 6

A HOME ON WHEELS.

ROOMY MOTOR-CARAVAN.

ROTORUA RESIDENT'S JOUR, COMFORT OF THE HIGHWAYS. A trim motor-caravan outside a city office yesterday attracted somo attention. Sovoral ycai'3 of holiday-making with motor vohiclcs partially adapted to tho purposo have mado the owner-designer, Mr. 11. P. Spcdding, of Rotorua, an authority in his subject. Tho effects of this may bo seen in tho clever manner in -which advantago has been taken of . spaco to arrange sleeping accommodation and tho full conveniences of life for at least fivo pcoplo. With his wife and family of boys, Mr. Spedding has travelled from Dannevirke, whero tho caravan was built, across the North Island to Waihi Beach, along the Thames coast, north to Auckland and Helensvillo, back to tho ciiy and then home to Rotorua yesterday afternoon. / Weather conditions during this period have not been tho best for travelling, but the comfort of the party has not been affected in the slightest by unfavourable elements. For warm weather there are the two ventilators in the roof and six side windows that open to capacity or in doubtful weather becomo absolutely watertight. .Practically the same weight as the seven-sealer service cars common on East Coast runs, tho caravan complete scales ' Wo and a-half tons, a solid amount, but in no way heavy for the chassis on which it is built. During the thousand miles of travel the vehiclo has had hilly and rough roads to contend with, and these bave been covered without a hitch. Space lor Sleeping. ; The greatest problem confronting the designer of a caravan is that of spaco for sleeping. Mr. Spedding has solved this and allowed comfortablo accommodation (or five persons. Long upholstered seats are provided at tho back and along one side behind tho driver. At night the backs of these raise on hinges to make bunks, in addition to the seats themselves, whilo tho driver's seat, Bix feet long, ncods little alteration to make another bed! Lit electrically from tho roof, curtained off into three private compartments, and with bedding produced from a capacious locker, tho caravan at, night has the luxury of a hotel. A wardrobe with bevelled mirror is a further contribution to tho more than* bome-like comfort. , Tho travollor is independent of out-door cooking and its inconvenience. A small benzino stovo insido tho door makes tho preparation of food easy* Next to it again, with wasto tank underneath, is a sink concealed under a vegetablo board. Closer to the back is a pantry-cupboard and underneath is a 25-gallon water tank complete with pump. A useful-sized folding-tablo is conveniently situated for dining, and additional scats and lockers completo in part a very attractive combination. Means ol Entertainment. , An essential iti such travel is entertainment and this has been amply realised with a fxve-valvo wireless sot embodied in the caravan. Concerts are received from New Zealand, Australian and Japanese stations. A 120 ft. aerial has beeu incorporated in tho roof of the caravan, both set and loud-speaker being directly over tho head of the driver. The necessary electric current is derived from the car batteries, supplemented by a dry " B » battery. On a recent Sunday afternoon near Waihi Beach tho wireless loud-speaker attracted 28 other motorists to the spot to listen-in and to examine this novel form of pleasure transport. Wherever the" caravan has rested it has been the object of many curious eyes, and not nntil it gains like company on the road will tho novelty disappear.