ROUND THE WORLD.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13489, 8 June 1914, Page 6

ROUND THE WORLD.

A 43,000 MILE WALK

MAURICE VANCAM IN NELSON

Maurice Vancam, of Vancouver, British Columbia, who has -undertaken to walk 43,000 miles in various countries of the world in seven years for a v/ager, arrived in Nelson from Wellington by the Pateena on Saturday morniag, and it staying at the Exchange Hotel. If ho is. successful in accomplishing his task he is to receive £5000 on his return to his native town. The conditions attached to the wager are that iio "must-not work, sell, beg, borrow, or steal." He was to leave home ia a newspaper suit, walk 43,000 miles over a route which was marked out, aud return with £2000. Vancam is hopeful of winning the wager,'and at present he is three months ahead of schedule time. He left Vancouver on August. 20th, 1911; crossed Canada to Halifax: then proceeded to New York. From there ho walked across the United States to San Francisco, thence through Mexico, Central America, Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, British Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentine, and Chili. He took steamer from Valparaiso to Cairns (Queensland), and walked to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Port Augusta, and thence to Perth. Then back to Sydney, and from Sydney to Eden (N.S.W.), where he took steamer to Launceston. Having traversed Tasmania, he crossed the Tasman sea to Wellington in the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Remuora; then walked round the North Island via the Main Trunk line to A uckland, then to Hotorua, Taupo, Napier, and back to' Wellington. From j Nelson he will proceed to Greymouth, .•cross the Otira Gorge to Christchureh, thence to the Bluff and Stewart Island. From New Zealand he will go to South 'Africa, and will walk from the Cape to Cairo. His trip in Africa is to cover 10 000 miles. Europe and Asia are to follow, Japan to be the last country visited before returning to Vancouver. Kr Vancam has walked 19,081 miles to date and hopes to accomplish half of the 43,000 miles in three years. Although Mr Vancam has had some thrilling experiences, he treats the dim-, cutties and dangers of the undertaking ■«ia;htly. While in South America he walked for 1800 miles through the Orinoco country, which is entirely iniiabited by savages, but ho got through without molestation. Ln Brazil ho. was arrested and ordered to be. returned home for his own safety by the Governor, but through the efforts' of the, British Consul ho was released. Ur> to the present his worst experience was across the Australian desert between Port Augusta and Ooolgardie This was done in throe stages ot 240 railes (nine days), 252 miles days), and. 173 miles, without seeing., es Mr Vancam puts it, "a man, a house, or a drop of water.. Everything, except meat, winch was plentiful ia the form of rabbits and wild turjkevs, and including water, had to bo carYiod. whiVo n.i iVhirat Bay, »< th.° Australian Bight, he contract?;! citoric rover, and was taken out to a passing mail steaim-rY and n! turned to Sydney vviioro ho remained for sonic t.me, until Im was able to re-ton tiimo Ins journey whore he left off. M. Vnncam also, struck, the North lV i:; m! thmiij the heavy floods a few wwks »#<>, and had. considerable difficulty in -making- progress, on ono ' occasion walking across a bridge when the flood waters were, several inches above the decking. In' Canada Mr Vancam i.s a well-known l

athloto, and holds records for the threemile walk, tho twonty-milo cross-coun-try run, and tho 240 miles endurance test. Mr Vancam carries books, with him bearing the, official seals of tho towns ho has visited, together with tho signatures of prominent citizens, and in some cases tho po&tal, date- stamps. Oh arriving in New Zealand he made a request to the Secretary of the Post Office for a- similar privilege, but was refused. On Saturday Mr Vancam obtained the signature of tho Mayor (Mr Lock) ami the seal of the city, audtho signature of thn Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Edmonds). Mr Vancam will continue his journey to-day.