The first motor cars arrived in New Zealand more then 120 years ago. There were just two of them, and they came from France on the steamship Rotomahana. The cars reached Wellington on 19 February 1898. Their new owner was a man named William Mclean. It must have felt like Christmas to William when he saw his two shiny, new machines!
A car similar to one of the cars that William Mclean brought to New Zealand
One of the cars was small, with a top speed of 16 kilometres an hour. the other was larger and could go almost 50 kilometres an hour! That was faster than any horse and cart could travel. William decided to call the big car Lightning. William wanted to show everyone how good a motor car could be, so he took the mayor of Wellington for a drive. Things were going well until William lost control and ran into a fence. The mayor hurt his nose, and onlookers were shocked. They had just seen New Zealand's first car accident!
First car accident in New Zealand.
Great work, Jabal!
ReplyDeleteHey Jabal
ReplyDeleteOh dear, perhaps not the good impression William was hoping to make with the Mayor of Wellington. I imagine it would have felt like Christmas receiving those 2 cars.
I'm off to read Parts 2 and 3, Jabal. Feeling excited!