ROUND AND ABOUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 136, 11 June 1929, Page 18

ROUND AND ABOUT.

CHAT FROM THE GARAGES.

VARIOUS TOPICAL TOPICS.

OLD TIME MOTORISTS,

There are few mechanics in Auckland who know a car better than Dr. J. Kinnear, 011 c of Auckland's old motoring enthusiasts. He has made a real study of motor cars, and has owned many valuable machines. One of Auckland's early motorists was Dr. F. J. Rayncr. There seems to be some doubt as to who was actually the lirst private car owner in Auckland, but Dr. Rayncr was at least among the first two or three. He has always owned powerful machines with plenty of speed. Mr. C. Chatteris, one of the old school, pioneered the battery station business in the city. Away back in 100(5-7, he was the only man in Auckland who could charge or repair a battery. In those days the battery was a mystery. Mr. Chatteris was one time a familiar figure in his old two cylinder Darracq car. Mr. Joe Hcnning can easily claim to be the first car salesman in Auckland. When his brother George was the agent for Daimler cars 24 years ago, he was selling then, and is still selling, which is something of a record. Another brother, Mr. W. Henning, was killed during the war. He was in the flying iield. Dr. Do Clive Lowe helped to establish the AA.A. when the members could be counted on the lingers of two hands. Many a time in the early days he started out to visit a patient in his car and came home behind a horse. Unreliable cars, bad roads, and few mechanics who knew anything about cars were factors which an had to be reckoned with in those days.

Among , tho first in the field with a private car in the early days of New Zealand motoring was Mr. David L. Nathan. Once Mr. Nathan undertook a world tour in one of the old chain drive cars, and succeeded in spite of the obstacles which had to be overcome. Now Mr. Nathan favours • English machines. * •