RELIABILITY TRIALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9676, 19 October 1909, Page 1

RELIABILITY TRIALS.

„. ; _ A RUN TO MOUNT COOK. . The Canterbury Automobile "Aseocia tion is making arrangements to hole tins year's reliability . trials during Christmas week to Mount Cook. It v proposed to sp&nd a oo\iple of days ai the famous resort, bo that the run wil! bo somewhat in the natui*© of a tourisi outing^ The last two trials proved tc be vory strenuous, and the Assopiatior will endeavour to mako this one less hard on the competitors. In oonnection with the ran, Dr N, A. Neeley. visited Wellington on Thursday and conferred with the Hon T, Mackenzie in regard to the accommodation for the motorists at the Hermitage. Through the courtesy of Mr H. G..-EU, M.P., Dr Neeley was enabled to see the Minister at once, and tire interview proved very satisfactory tc him. The Minister promised that in the event of the accommodation at the Hermitage not being booked. during the week, he would see that all .arrange-! anents were" mad© for the comfort *-of the visitors, and he won Mb© able .to see,, to the 100 or 150 people that were expected. on the run. .As the motorists would be at the Hermitage for a couple of days, they^ would be. provided with tents when all tke acooanmodation in the building was taken up, but there was little fear that they would not be able to make a holiday of .-camping out. The Minister added that he had made arrangements by .which the- new track across, the mountains to .. the West Coast would be opened this month, and the travellers, might have an opportunity of seeing it in working ore'er. Tho roads were ready for use, -and he would have them put , in. order for tho trip, and. as most of the streams were bridged there would be no diificulty h regard to water. \Vhile Mr Mackenzie j was speaking, a telegram arrived-a;k-ing wiiat was" to be done in . regard t the two bridges remaining', unfinished, and the Minister gave instructions thai [they should be_ put in hand at.'c-n-cc T>r Neoley considers that there is evcrv prospect that they will be complete*! in time for the runi Mr G. W. O. Moon, of the Tourist Department, yesterday received a telegram asking whether the accommodation was "Booked, and as no oiie ha^yet asked for rooms, thea < c is every prospect of the Hermitage" being available for the motorists., . >' ' Dr Neeley said' that he was very pleased at the kindly manner in which the Minister had received him and listened to his requests, and he considers that the . run snould be the moat enjoyable yet held. Mr Mackenzie had done-, all- in his power to^ake the way dear for the competitors, -end the whole thing was going very smoothly.