A BRITISH BUS ON LONG.-DISTANCE WORK IN NEW ZEALAND.
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rrinE constantly growing recognition _.L of the merits of the motor vehicle in New Zealand and the increasing demand for vehicles of British manufacture were responaible for Leyland Motors, Ltd., opening a branch office at Wellington, N.Z., towards the end of 1919, anddui.ing the past five years the advisability ef this step has been amply proved, for quite a large proportion of the output of the company's works is now regularly despatched to the Antipodes.
The chassis which the company export for service " Down Ueder " are assembled in the ustial manner and subjected to the severe routine road tests which all Leyland models have to pass. The units are then dismantled and carefully crated in the company's packing shops, which adjoin the main premises, subsequently being conveyed by road to the Liverpool Docks. Some two years ago one of the company's A7 models, fitted with pneumatic tyres, was despatched in this manner and duly delivered, after being reerected at the Wellington branch (which had secured the order) and fitted with a bus body of local construction, to the Mount Cook Motor Co., of Timaru. This company maintain a regular passenger servioe with a magnificent hotel known as "The Hermitage," which is attractively situated on the plateau of Mount Cook, which rises to a height of over 12,000 ft. The round trip from Timaru involves a journey of 280. miles, and the run is made on an average twice a week all the year round.
Pictures of the hotel and the Leyland vehicle used on the service are illustrated on this page. The company have just received details of some very interesting figures in connection with the running of this vehicle. During the 'retied that it has covered a mileage of 50,000 the bill for replacements (over and above ordinary wear and tear, which covers such items as brake linings, etc.) has amounted to less than £5. The vehicle has also proved to be most ecenomical on fuel and oil, and averages a distance of 9-10 miles for every gallon of petrol consumed, and is credited with running between 800-1,000 miles on a similar quantity of oil: The vehicle has gained a considerable reputation for the convenience and coinfort which it gives, and regularly averages 20 m.p.h. through the complete journey. As there is no town within several miles of Mount Cook, the question of the transport of supplies is of considerable imeortanee, and two Leyland commercial vehicles are employed for carrying goods to the hotel.