TO LAKES TEANUA AND MANAPOURI BY MOTOT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 4

TO LAKES TEANUA AND MANAPOURI BY MOTOT.

To Mr J. L. Passmore falls the honour of having been the first motorist to do the distance from Dunedin to Te Anau in one day. The time taken by him from Dunedin was 13 hours His actual running time was 10 hours 13 minutes, and the distance covered was 217 j miles, registered by the speedometer. From Dunedin to Gore the road is fair; from Gore to Balfour it is good; but from Balfour to Lumsden it is rough with ruts From Lumsden to Te Anau the road is, with the exception of some stretches of clay, covered with loose stones, but as these are all round, gravel stones they do not affect the tyres to. any extent At a distance of 12 milos from Te Anau the road branches. That to the left goes to Manapouri, while the one straight on goes to Te Anau. From this point is the worst part of the whole journey, as there a. number "of ruts and holes arid loose stones of all sizes, from an inch up to 12in in diameter, are encountered. There are also a number of gates to open, and the road winds through sheep paddocks, oat paddocks, and turnip paddocks. Mr Passmore's advice to any motorist making the trip is, "Don't think you are lest if you cannot find the road, for there is none; just make for the nearest, gate, and you will find the road further on."

The reception at Te Anau more than compensates for the, roughness of the roads, as the accommodation and attention! received are everything that could he desired. From Te Anau to Manapouri the distance' is about 13 miles, but the read is so rough"in places that unless a car has- a good ground clearance it is a little risky to attempt,' to negotiate it. The road simply consists of two deep ruts with a high ridge in middle." 'When returning from Te Airau motorists are strongly recom-' mended to turn off at Castle Rock, about a mile and a-half out of Lumsden. and go on to Invercargill. After the first few miles from Oastle Rock the road is simply perfect, and continues so right on to Invercargill. _■ The road from Inveroafsrfll To Gore is in very gcod order. Petrol can. be obtained at Gore and at Lumsden, but not at either Manapouri or Te Anan, so that motorists require to take sufficient with them to bring them back to Lumsden. Lastly, they should not under any consideration attempt the journey in wet Weather, as there are one or two steep hill-? with pure clay surfaces, which it would be practically impossible to get. up with safety. There are ako oiio or two nasty streams to ford, which rise very rapidly. It is therefore advisable (,;> examine every ford before the attempt is made to cross it. ''Taking it all over, however," Mr Passmore says, "this is out- of the best of tours, and- one which no motorist would regret taking "