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34 COROMANDEL LIFE SPRING/HOLIDAY 2016
First cyclist across the Hauraki Plain
He made the trip riding a Massey Silver Ribbon bike from the early 1920s,
the name coming from the silver ribbon brand on the front stem.
By Charles W. Malcolm, excerpted from the
Ohinemuri Regional History Journal, No. 30,
September 1986
Isurely must have been the first to have
crossed the Hauraki Plains from Paeroa to
Pokeno, on a bicycle. I say “surely” because
no one else could have been so foolish as to
have undertaken such a journey before that
time, having any knowledge of the state of
the road.
It was a Saturday, the first of the May school
holidays, in 1922, when I set out with my
pyjamas in a parcel on the handlebars and
two shillings in my pocket, to complete the
40 mile journey before lunch. I accomplished
the feat in a whole day-and-a-half – a total of
30 hours instead of the six I had planned!
My father and I were “batching” in our Hill
Street home as my mother was visiting my
grandparents on their farm in Pokeno Valley.
I proposed to surprise them at lunch on that
Saturday. I did manage to surprise them at
lunch, but 24 hours later than I intended. I set
off shortly after 6 00am. I had always been
keenly interested in the projected Paeroa to
Pokeno Railway and felt myself a pioneer on
the route.
My bicycle was a heavy ungeared model
and bore a small plate with the inscription
“Massey Silver Ribbon” but it would not have
won any prize ribbon for ease of pedalling or
for speed especially against the head winds I
encountered across the exposed plain!
I made deceptively good progress across
the flat red-metalled straight roads of the
Plain, through Netherton, past Kerepehi, via
Ngatea, to Waitakaruru where I broke into my
two shillings to purchase a cold drink. The
road ahead to the hills was straight and flat.
But I little knew what lay ahead - unmetalled
clay. I was forced to dismount for the tyres
of my cycle picked up the clay and bore it
round until it accumulated in the fork bringing
the bicycle to a halt - the wheels just would
not turn and I was compelled to carry the
heavy machine!
Fortunately I noticed narrow tracks in the
teatree on either side of the unfenced road
and here the soil was black. Here I was able
to ide again. In the distance I saw, to my
relief, grey metalled road ahead. But it was
as fatal as a mirage! The metal was unbroken
large chunks of rock known as spalls. My
father who once worked on the roads had a
spalling hammer for breaking up these large
pieces. I could certainly not ride over them
and wondered how even a horse could walk
on them.
Evening was approaching as I reached
Maramarua so exhausted that I dropped
my bicycle and sat down with my back
to a telegraph pole for support. Then the
first motor car I had seen all day was seen
approaching in the direction I was taking.
I stood up and waved. I don’t know why!
They might have picked me up but what
would they have done with the bicycle I did
not think. However, as they passed by they
shouted, “Full up!” I felt the same!
Resuming my weary journey, I met two
horsemen driving their cows towards the
milking shed. I asked, “How far to Pokeno?”
They replied that I could certainly not reach it
before nightfall and most generously offered
me the hospitality of their home for the night.
It was a farm cottage occupied by the two
and their charming sister. They were kindness
itself and after a most welcome meal, I was
eventually bedded down for the night on the
couch in the front room.
Sunday dawned. All three were away at
the milking shed. I left a note of grateful
thanks and, without breakfast, set off on
the remainder of my journey. The Surrey
Flats were flooded but I waded through,
endeavouring to keep to the middle of the
road. I had a rest and a mug of tea in a
road-man’s hut. I surprised my mother and
my grandparents at their lunch. I surprised
myself that I had arrived a day and a half after
setting out. I returned to Paeroa by train, my
bicycle in the guard’s van!
Want more? Read Charles Malcolm’s
essay about the Paeroa to Pokeno rail line:
never-was n Main 078647464
236 Main Road in Tairua
KAYLA 078689063
522 Pollen Street in Thames
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