‘SEE NEW ZEALAND FIRST’

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1932, Page 11

‘SEE NEW ZEALAND FIRST’

WHITE STAR MOTOR SERVICE PREPARING FOR THE CONFERENCE PRESIDENT TOUR'S DOMINION. BEAUTIFUL AND VARIED SCENERY Claiming an organisation of road trahsport completely covering New Zealand, a fleet of over 1000 well appointed cars in charge of experienced drivers, an agent in every town and a car on every road, all pant of a co-ordinated system to make travel easy, interesting and speedy, the White Star motor service will hold its annual conference at New Plymouth on Wednesday, which will be attended by members from all over New Zealand, One member of the "organisation from the South Island, ■weather permitting, will come to the conference in an aeroplane, which is 'used by him as an adjunct to his service.

Directors of the organisation are appointed at the annual conference each year, five from the North Island and five from the South, and the presidency alternates annually 1 between the two islands. During the past year Mr. George Gibson, managing-director of Gibson’s Motors Ltd., New Plymouth, has occupied the presidential chair. In order to make himself thoroughly ac-. quainted with the services of the association and with a view to discussing the position with the various members in their own localities, Mr. Gibson has in the last three weeks covered the greater part of New Zealand, travelling iby the different services. In certain localities rail and boat had to foe used to -the extent of 574 miles, but he actually travelled 2786 miles by service cars. On Saturday Mr. Gibson gave a short Account of his travels to a News ■representative. - “I did not experience one breakdown on the road, and in only oiie case had a tyre -to ‘be changed,” -said Air. Gibson, This speaks well for the efficiency of modern motor transport. He was greatly struck by the wonderful variety of scenery in New Zealand,-and was more than ever impressed with the fact that travellers in New Zealand can,-if th«y go -the right way about it,- obtain all the pleasure and -thrills' that could be Obtained in practically -any other part of the world, and that the -slogan “See New Zealand First” is well deserving-of exploitation.

BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS. “After' leaving New Plymouth via. Wanganui and ’Palmerston North for Napier the -scenery is well known,” continued Mr. Gibson. “On the day on which I-was fortunate enough to travel wonderful views were obtained -of Alt, Egmont on the right and the Ruapehu group on the left, all heavily snowclad, and with pastures almost emerald green under the influence of spring stretching away to their feet. The roads ■were uniformly wide and easy, the surface being mostly tarred and in very good condition. From Napier to Wairoa a different class of rountry was encountered —mostly rugged country, by winding and precipitous roads which are very -narrow but have a fair macadam surface... Careful driving is advisable but the type of country traversed .is an education to the Taranakian.” “From Wai-roa to Gisborne much similar country was experienced, with a very pretty green oasis at Morere. On this route one rises to an altitude of T7SO .feet, at which height several miles, are traversed giving a glorious view of Poverty Bay with Gisborne in the distance. From Gisborne to Whak-atane the route lay via Mataw-ai and the Waioeka Gorge, the road rising to 2380 feet and dropping gently for 31 miles . down a glorious winding gorge to Opotiki, thence along the flat-to Wihakatane. From W-haKatane. to Rotorua the roads were very similar, but less hilly, and steadily improved all the way. This section was particularly beautiful, the road winding through tropical bush and past the famous lakes Roitomah, Rotoehu -and Rotoiti, thence for about 10 miles round the south end of Lake Rotorur, through Titikiri. The section between Rotorua and Auckland was well-known, the back country through Waihi and Paeroa being somewhat -monotonous except for the distant view-s and the interesting nature of the gold-fields in the Waihi Gorge. The roads in this district were .mostly shingle, ’but in good condition. Unfortunately time did not permit of a journey north of Auckland.

THE SOUTH ISLAND. Hugged and broken, country characterised the road from Blenheim to Nelson in the South. (Island.- One of the most interesting sights-, because of the old associations of the gold day-s that it revived, was the old coach road running along the opposite side of the valley from Wangamoa (Saddle. Though the scenery was rugged and grand, however, the roads were in fair order. Near Havelock the' country grew very -pretty, .and Nelson, with its bush and its. streams and its shipping nestling contentedly in the harbour, was a happy journey’s end.. . • ' The first section of the Nelson to Westport highway lay through flat, well cultivated country, with a distinctive touch of old England. From Hope Saddle near the Gowan River the country grew poorer, .and very rough. The road, was narrow -and hilly, and it was surprising that it carried mo bush. It was hardly beautiful country, but a transformation. took place on entering the Buller Gorge. To Murchison the country was very rugged 'but extremely beautiful, the river changing colour according to the nature of the soil. The fact that the road follows the river added to the interest of the drive.

Murchison, although recovered froni (the effects of the earthquake, etill tends to leave on? awed when the huge slips a ro observed, continued Mr.- Gj'pgon. One seems to be practically ehut

in.. From Murchison to Westport the road was .particularly interesting. The driver stopped soon after leaving Murchison, and pointed out the main fault line of the recent earthquake. A tablet marts- the spot where the road has dropped 14 feet, at the point which is considered the seat of the fault- The fault can.fbe clearly traced through the river-bed and away back into the hills, A few miles from.-there one of the service cars'.caught ‘by the earthquake, had to be abandoned for six months, In mtet cases from the. end of the fault line the new road is between 100 and 150 feet higher than the old road, and is cut -out Of solid rock. In one place, just, past the fault line, a tremendous slip had come down from the right hand side, right across the rivet from the, road to the other side of the gOrge, blocking the river for some time. Huge boulders still remain on the side of. the road, though no slip actually came down on the road side of the valley. In one place the route winds round and actually under the famous-Hawk's Crag, The scenery was exceedingly pretty all the way except on the outskirts of 'Westport. En route to Greymouth the country, Although not particularly beautiful, is of great - interest on account of ths evidence of the old gold days. Tiny villages, which the driver pointed out, all had a population, of about 30,000 people in the Old times. Now all that reis an old church-or two and the inevitable hotels. The coast road from pharleston to G-reymouth followed the sea nearly all the way. The easterly wind from the Alps which strikes Grey-mout-h in. : a blast, had a chill indeed. From Greymouth to Hokitika was not particularly interesting. HOKITIKA GOLD DREDGE. ; .

A run of about five miles was made from Hokitika to the new gold dredge. One appeared to be driving over hundreds of millions of tons of rock turned over ’by the dredge. The water was only a muddy pool about 40 feet deep. First the 'bush 'had to be cleared fro-m the swthnp; then a drilling machine took ah exact sample of the soil to a depth of 40 feOt, which was analysed and if it was found to ’be satisfactory the area was dredged. The dredge was operated 'by . American capital,, the ■power being electricity from a special power plant run by the company which also supplied Hokitika with. electricity. Three shifts were worked on t’.e dredge, six days a' week, with a “wash upday on iSund-ay. Another special trip was made to Lake Kanieri, -along a narrow road through virgin bush. A visitor to Hokitika should never -miss this tri;. said Mr. Gibson, as the lake was one of the most peaceful and beautiful sights imaginable.

the glacier country. A very windy and hilly road led-from Hokitika to the glaciers, past -rivers, lakes-and the coast all the way. Right through to the Franz Josef -glacier the scenery ’whs magnificent. Franz Josef had a splendid hostelry and its own little church and a landing place for an aeroplane,’ which visited. the place every SundayThe road from Franz Josef to Fox Glacier, although only 17 miles, -passed through- very rough and rugged country, and took over an hour to. cover. Three beautiful saddles, somewhat like Mt. Messenger, 'but more rugged arid grand, were traversed en route. The .-Fox Glacier was somewhat similar to Franz Josef ■Racier, the hostel in each case’ being about three miles away from the foot of the glacier.' The drive' from the Fox Glacier to the Cook River could only ■be described as of surpassing loveliness. From the Cook River Mounts Cook, Tasman and. 'Sefton, the giants of the Alps, seemed almost within hand’s reach, so clear was the air. At Franz Josef the hostelry, managed by Graham Bros., was a fine institution, with electricity installed. •Sullivan Bros, had a splendid hostel at the Fox glacier. The appointments-. of both hostelries were ex-, cellent and they were located in warm,; sunny positions. A -fortnight could well be spent at both places, working new ■ground all the timeHokitika to Christchurch was done by rail through the Otira tunnel, the Otira Gorge road being blocked at the time. Most travellers entrained their cars from Otira to Springfield. After coming from the'West Coast one was particularly-struck with the very level country ail the way to Christchurch, said Mr. Gibson. The change was remarkable. From-Christchurch to Hanmer there, was nothing very spectacular until from the Weka 'Pass to Hanmer, where the country was very beautiful.: Hanme was a gloriously situated spot, tuckc< up under the hills. Its air was said m be the''clearest and freshest in New Zealand, arid-the gardens in the sum-, mer time were most 'beautiful. There was a fin* Government plantation of

English trees, some of which had been cut? and houses 'built of the wood. Hanmer boasted a most magnificent “Lodge,” costing fK),000, on the most up-to-date lines, and everything was built to last a lifetime. The building was centrally heated, ■ and the diningroom and lounge were similar to the Chateau Tongariro, with accommodation for 150 people in the dining room. One was struck with the fact that hundreds of thousands of acres of -sheep country were held by- -two or three settlers. ■ ' From Christchurch to Timaru the country was practically flat all the way,with wide, straight shingle roads. Timaru was a very pretty ‘and-substan-tial town, with nearly all its buildings brick or concrete, and particularly beautiful suburbs. Two White Star aeroplanes could be obtained at Timaru for flights over the town and district. ’Similar country prevailed to Oamaru, where -plains give' way to rolling hills as far as Hampden. 'Thence to Duhedin some steep hills and winding roads were encountered, with a magnificent panorama of Rort Chalmers as one rounded the cliffs towards • Dunedin, ■ Mr. Gi’bSOn was uiia'bl*' -to mate the "joiirfley from Timaru to Mt-. Cobk da this occasion, but he had been on that journey before. The lake scenery and mountain views were' well known,' he said.