ENGLAND INTERESTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1074, 11 September 1930, Page 7

ENGLAND INTERESTED

WHERE IS NINETY MILE BEACH? WIZARD SMITH S ATTEMPT Though Norman (“Wizard”) Smith put the Ninety Mile Beach on the motoring map, its exact location is very vague in the minds of English enthusiasts. This was stressed in a letter received at the Auckland Automobile Association’s meeting last evening from Mr. 11. Butcher, a member of the Council of the A.A.A., who is at present visiting London. “i found things very mixed up here,” Mr. Butcher wrote. “They were mixed up with the Southland beach, the ninety miles’ beach near Christchurch, and Muriwai Beach. The High Commissioner's office had marked the sea from Mokianga to Muriwai as the Ninety Mile Beach. Everybody had got all over New Zealand except in the right place.” The Royal Automobile Club had told Mr. Butcher that they would give every assistance to have any world’s record broken on the Ninety Mile Beach: If necessary they would have the moving picture which he had with him shown in the club. They had also given him a full member’s ticket during his stay in London. I have seen Colonel Hacking, who is chairman of the Society of Motor Manufacturers, and who made inquiries through the firm in Wellington on behalf of Captain Malcolm Campbell. whom I have met,” the letter stated. “I had quite a job to convince Captain Campbell that our beach was the only one, as somebody from Invercargill had written stating that the Southland beach was the best in New Zealand. Captain Campbell is building

Everybody wanted to know what Norman “Wizard” Smith was doing. What he did last February on the Ninety Mile Beach caused a stir throughout Europe, and the French people were much concerned about New'Zealand claiming a world’s record for Smith, when there was no permit from the parental body to run the trial. TIMING APPARATUS

The writer had seen the High Commissioner and also Mr. S. C. H. Davis, who advised him to "show his stuff” as soon us possible in case anyone should want to come to New Zealand next January.

The difficulty of obtaining timing apparatus was stressed by the writer, who said the only beam light system now approved by the French association was the “Le Koi,” of French manufacture. The R.A.C. were applying lor one of British manufacture to be approved at the next meeting of the International Competitions Committee next September.

The French apparatus would cost approximately 1:350, plus charges. Mr. Butcher mentioned also that he was attempting to interest some of the oil companies in preparation for the forthcoming attack on the world’s record on the Ninety Mile Beach. It was • suggested to me that if New Zealand offered the steamer transportation expenses it would go a long way.” Mr. Butcher stated. Captain Malcolm Campbell took about 20 cases of stuff to Africa besides his