ADVENTUROUS TRIP

Taranaki Daily News, 6 June 1930, Page 9

ADVENTUROUS TRIP

JOURNEY IN “BABY” CAR. ROUTE’ THROUGH AUSTRALIA. The distinction of being the first men to travel by motor-car from Sydney to Capo York, the northernmost point of >a.;tr&lia, is shared by two Aucklanders, Mr. H. Macquan-ie and Mr. R. B. Matthews, who returned to Auckland by the Maunganui this week. Their adventures in Australia in then baby car, ‘“Emily,” have already formed the subject of a book, which was reviewed in the Daily News last Saturday, but “Emily’s” career is not yet finished. Mr. Macquarrie and Mr. Matthews intend to set out shortly on a trip round the world by oar. The two Aucklanders have a liking for out-of-the-way places. About two years ago they were living at Pandora, Spirits’ Bay, at the tip of the North Auckland peninsula. Then they set out for Australia with iha idea of reaching Singapore eventually. Howevei, after arriving at Sydney they decided to undertake the trip to Cape York, undeterred . by predictions that they could never hope to travel across such desolate country in a “’baby” car. They travelled to Cairns by, easy stages, but after that their difficulties commenced. There were no roads and all they could do was to follow the tracks between telegraph stations. The country was unbelievably wild. “Emilj was a brave little lady, Mr. Maequanie said. “About three weeks after leaving Sydney we arrived at| Cape York, having travelled between 3000 and 4000 miles.”

From Cape York the two travellers went to Thursday Island and there sold their car at a profit. However, they were not to lose “Emily.” The lady who bought the car in turn sold it to the Australian agents, who presented it to the New Zealanders when they returned from a stay of six weeks in New Guinea.

•’We shall bo off again soon,” Mr. Macquarrie said. “We have ‘Emily’with us and intend to drive up to Spirits’ Bay and then down to the Bluff before leaving on our trip round the world.”