FORD CARS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19314, 3 May 1937, Page 9

FORD CARS

20 YEARS DISTRIBUTORS MESSRS BIGNELL & HOLMES \ • JUBILEE TO-DAY NEW PREMISES OPENED ' It is 25 years since the first Ford dealers commenced operations in this district and nearly 20 years since the firm of Messrs Bignell and Holmes came into being to assume control of the Ford distribution here.

. • Astounding progress has been made in that time by the motor industry, and foremost in these advances has been the products of the Ford factory. Privileged to supply the district with Ford cars, trucks and tractors, Messrs Bignell and Holmes, in their equipment and service, have kept pace with the advances of the Ford. Their original policy of maintaining a standard of efficiency which assured the public of high service has been adhered to rigidly, and from time to time additions to premises, extensive purchases to plant and equipment have been made, as the growth and exigencies of the business required. "To-day, entering upon the twentyfiftli anniversary of the establishment of 'the Ford dealership in Gisborne, Messrs. Bignell and Holmes announce the opening of a fine extension to their' existing premises. Modern Service Station

- Originally the Ford Garage in Grey street occupied a quarter acre. An "additional half-acre adjoining has been brought into use and a .spacious show-room 66ft x 78ft. has been erected. A wide concreted area is available for car parking, and a modern service station, electricallyequipped to supply motorists rapidly witli their requirements in petrol aud oils, has been erected. The service station portion is designed in a style new to Gisborne, and in front has a Neon electric clock, Neon floodlit at night. The station presents an attractive appearance, and is a decided acquisition to the business premises of the town. The workshop has been enlarged by having an area 66 x 30ft added. The equipment is thoroughly up-to-date, with modern tools, car hoists and a paint shop, offering a rapid, efficient service to motorists. Facilities for the Staff In the new construction the staff have not been forgotten. The washing room is equipped with a plentiful supply of hot and cold water. There i'h a changing room, with personal lockers for each staff member. The paint shop is to be equipped with special fans to properly ventilate this portion of the building. Light and air are provided for in an effective manner, all of which make for comfortable working conditions. To fittingly celebrate the firm's silver jubilee and the openiug of the garage extensions, Messrs. Bignell and Holmes to-morrow night wilt entertain all interested at the Regent Theatre, where will be screened special films showing the magnitude and enterprise of the Ford organisation in England, Canada and the United States.

MOTORING ON THE COAST BEACHES WERE "ROADS" HAZARDOUS TRIPS Motoring on the Coast before the present road was formed was a hazardous enterprise and in his frequent trips Mr. W. Bignell has met wi~h experiences that the motorist of today has little chance of encountering. On one occasion Mr. Bignell, accompanied by Mr. Holmes and a friend went to Tolaga Bay by the inland road which to-day is closed to traffic. It was just a nice Sunday jaunt, and Mr. Holmes expressed a wish to return by the Coast route as it was his first visit to the Coast. With their car, loaded with lemons by a Tolaga Bay resident, who also was a Ford owner, the three set out to traverse the beaches and rocks which lay along the 4. r > miles to Gisborne Drop Into 10ft. of Water Loisel's Beach ,was negotiated in fine style; the tide was low and the sand hard. At the second beach it was necessary to cross the mouth of the Whangara River, a place sometimes treacherous with quick-sands. The sun was shining low and in Mr. Bignell's eyes. He travelled smartly in low gear towards the river and iixed his eyes on a place which looked safe. It was dangerous to stop and investigate for the car would probably have sunk in the sand. The water in the bright sunlight appeared to be just rippling over sand and certainly looked shallow. Buzxing merrily along they drove over th» edge of the low bank into 10ft. of water. The sun had completely deceived them and what appeared to be shallow water was deep. A Maori with a horse came on the scene and after he had dived in and attached a chain the car was drawn out. The night was spent with Mr. Frazer, the school-teacher at Whangara, and when the motorists went next morning to examine the car, they found the beach strewn with lemons. The floor hoards they picked up on the beach, and the scat? were not. recovered. As the engine was filled with salt water the car had to be towed to town. Stuck In Quick-Sand. On another occasion a car had been sold to a Tolaga Bay farmer. The demonstration run had been along the beaches, which were at their best. During the trial the farmer remarked that he never would take the rough and dangerous inland road when he could travel so smoothly and comfortably on the beach. The deal was completed and the new owner, after having spent some days gaining experience in Gisborne, set out for Tolaga Bay, followed by a car driven by Mr. Bignell. At a river crossing after leaving Tatapouri trouble was met. Forgetting to go into low gear and keep going, the farmer carried merrily on until he was in the middle of the creek. He delayed too long in changing to low gear, and stopped. He was stuck in the quick- > '. '■'

sand and slowly his car commenced to sink. Fortunately, a gang of Maori shearers came along and they pulled the car out, returning it to an owner who promptly declared that in future he would always travel the inland road, rough and dangerous us it was.