MODERN MOTORING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 13

MODERN MOTORING.

ANTIQUITY OF ROAD SIGNS. Road fig lls date back to the early liitorv of the world. Many monuments" have been unearthed by archaeological expeditions in Crete, Asia Minor, and the Greek Peloponnesus, which show that the directional signs were in use veD i n the time of the legendary heroes oi the Hellenic world. In the Roman form is still preserved the "golden milestone." a pillar which was erected by on which were carved the names of roads, together with distances .from Home. LATEST AMERICAN STUNT. i American car designers and dealers ; are happy when they are indulging in j some novel performance to demonstrate the capabilities oi their cars. Britain has its Brooklands track and test hille, and even an occasional reliability trial, but American ingenuity devises stranger wavs of attracting attention to a car. The latest dealers' "stunt" was to harness a light six to an electric tram. The tram was 15 times the weight of the automobile, and much pride was taken in the motor car's ability to draw the load in top gear. RE-LICENSING KOTOR VEHICLES. From April 1 every motor vehicle must carry the new plates, and the authorities are now busy issuing licenses for 1927-2S, and all owners are earnestly requested to relicense at once. The end of March is a particularly busy period for the registration officers, therefor early re-registration will not only be appreciated by them, but will obviate the waiting by owners that must occur if relicensing' is left until the last week in March. The new plates must not be used on vehicles until April 1. Before submitting their applications for relicensing, owners should see that (a) the car is already registered in their own name. If a car has been acquired from another owner during the year, without the transfer having been notified to the Deputy Registrar, a new plate will not be issued until the transfer is recorded; (b) that the engine and chassis numbers are correctly stated in the application. Any disagreement between the numbers stated on the application and the numbers on the deputy registrar's records will cause delay in obtaining new plates; (c) that the number of the plate in use is correctly stated on the application for relicense. Owners of two or more vehicles should see that the new plates are affixed to the particular vehicle for which they are issued. To assist the owner in this respect, the officer issuing the new plate will write the 1926-27 registration number on the paper containing the new plates. If the owner of a motor vehicle has permanently changed his residence since last registration he should immediately lodge a notification of change of garage unless he has already done so (no fee is chargeable for this.) j If the owner is temporarily absent from his district and wishes to relicense he should produce his certificate «f registration when applying for the new year's plates. The cost of plates will be the same as last year—namely, 2/ii a pair. All owners should relicense j at once. Tliis year the plates have letters signifying the class, aiid amount of fee, as follows:— (1) f2 license fee (cars, 1-ton trucks, etc .. plates without initial letters. I 2 ! £3 license fee (4-wheeled trailers, motor lorries, pneumatic tyres), plates with initial letter "A." (3) £5 license fee (motor buses, trade motors, solid tyres, etc.), plates with initial letter "B." (4) £1 license fee (two-wheeled trailers), plates with initial letter "C." (5) 10/ license fee (dealers' cars), plates with initial letter "D." (C) No license fee payable (Government, local and public authorities, etc. ) , plates with initial letter '"E." (7) 10/ license fee (cycles), platee "without initial letter. (S) 5/ license fee (dealers' cycles); plates with initial letter "D."