NEW MOTOR OAR

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 159, 7 July 1899, Page 2

NEW MOTOR OAR

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l see there are several parties anxious to get permission from the Council to run electric cars in the city. I think the public has nothing to complain of in the present system of cars; they are very convenient and moderate in price, and to give a foreign company a monopoly for 30 years 1 think would be very wrong. It would be better for the Council to keep a free hand. I give you the following from "Chambers's Journal": —"A motor car has recently been shown in London which seems to be. a distinct advance upon many of the vehicles of this sort which have previously been seen, heard, and—we are afraid we must say—smelt also in the streets. It is constructed on the Serpollet super heated steam system, the boiler of which is supplied with a very small quantity of water at a time, which is immediately vaporised. Moreover, the steam is only made as required, so that there is no noisy blowing off while the motor is not actually at work; indeed its steam arrangements at all times are perfectly silent. The fuel is petroleum, employed with a special form of burner, which ensures perfect combustion, and therefore absence of odour. In many respects too the engine itself shows great improvements, and can be run, it is said, at a cost of three miles a penny. The Serpollet system has for some time been in successful use in Paris on the tram lines, and it seems curious that there has been nothing of the kind attempted in this country, although ■we hear much of the substitution of electricity for horse traction. The subject is one which might usefully engage the attention of. our ffl,iyaicipal authorities."

Cars, like these would be a great advantage to the travelling public, being much cheaper and with no danger from overhead electric wires, and no monopoly whatever.—l am, etc., CITIZEN.