MOTORING.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17452, 12 May 1922, Page 4

MOTORING.

(By "SOADSTEEo")

nXTUEES. May 27th—Motor Car Reliability Trial. * May 31st—Annual Meeting, South Xaland JXator Union, Christchuicli.

NOTES.

Entries for the motor car reliability trial to Akaroa, on May 27th, close with the secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association on May 20th..

The revival of the trial will be welcomed by both private owners and members of the trade, for it is some years since this interesting competition was last held and during that time there has been improvement in ' the standard of cars anci a big increase in the number of drivers. Two classes aro provided, one for private owners and the other open to all. Tho conditions of the trial stipulate that in the private owners' class, the driver must be an amateur. The cars will leave the Square at 7.30 a.m. and proceed to Akaroa by the Lyttelton-Gover-nor's Bay route, stopping 45 minutes at the destination for refreshments. The return journey will be made via Little River and Ti Tapu, the drivers being instructed to follow the road skirting the hills, so that there may bo no interference with the traffic on the main road through Tai Tapu.

A suggestion that a ladies'_ annual driving competition should be inaugurated- met with tho unanimous approval of members of the Council of the Canterbury Automobile Association at the last meeting. It was stated that a "ladies' bracelet" event would prove very popular, for thero were many lady drivers in Canterbury, and a reliability trial over a route such as Sum-ner-Lyttelton-Govemor's Bay and back to • the city would provide a i'ood test of fie driving capabilities of the fair sex. One member naively remarked that the test should include a speed judging contest. The suggestion was referred to the Competitions Committee, which will arrange the details and report to an early meeting.

Members of the Council of the OA.A. wcro disappointed at the de-.l cision of the Malvern County Council to. the effect that it could not undertake to bridge water-races the full width of the road.. It was stated that tho previous understanding with tho County Council was that full-widtn bridging would be carried out providing j the Association contributed towards the cost. Now, however, it appears that i the Council has turned the project down, irrespective of tho Association's subsidy. Members of the Roads Committee of the Association, who have done so much for motoring in Canterbury, expressed the hope that tlio decision of the Council waa not irrevocable and stated further that if _ the Council maintained its present attitude towards the question it would shortly find that Malvern would be the only county in North Canterbury which had not undertaken this important work. Every water-race on the Main ttouth lload is now adequately bridged, thanks to the energy of the C.A'.A. and the progressive spirit of the local bodies, :and- it is to be hoped that Malvern will not lag behind in this respect.

The laying of the double tram track at tho Hospital corner lias created- a lieW' danger to traffic, and incoming motorists should exorcise particular care in negotiating the corner. Hitherto it has' been the practioe for traffic to swing out to the right in turning when proceeding itt _the direction of the city, thus _ avoiding tho possibility of a collision with, an out-going tram-car, for the track i's on' tho outsidle of the road at that point for Outward bound trams. The laying of the new lines has reduced the space ' for vehicular traffic on tho city side of tho corner, .and, in consequence in-going traffic has to swing further to tho right to get past the construction works, and thus encroach, on the track . of vehicles going out from the city on the correct, side of the road. The other day a pedestrian noticed two trams held up within an hour, owing to a blockage in the traffic, and several motorists, who" were apparently ignorant of the torn-up condition of the road around the corner, were seen travelling at a speed that, under the' circumstances, was distinctly dangerous. It would facilitate the running of trams and reduce tho risks for all users of the road if tho Tramway Board placed a man with a. flag on point duty at tho cojuer while the work of laying the double track was in progress.

HOME AND ABROAD.

The complaints recently mad© by ' motorists regarding the misbehaviour i of children on the roads, reminds one of a dangerous form of amusement children indulged in some fifteen years ago, when, motor-cars were something of a novelty. In those days it was the habit of small boys to dash out on the road and place their caps on the ground so that a car would pass over them. Whether, it was considered an honour to'have one's cap crushed into the dust by a car ; or whether it was the thrill of the risk incurred by the owner of the head-gear, was never rightly understood by drivers, who became quite used to missing small boys by inches. Fashions in schoolboy jokes, slang, and "Vtuuts" change with the years, arid the present-dav young hopeful finds his amusement in cont nuing to play U1 tho middle of the road until a swiftlymoving car is within a few feet of him or he may tako it into his head to add to the gaiety of life by having a pot-shot at the driver with a stone. Motorists who have left their boyhoiid days f~r behind them cannot understand the distinction enjoyed by a boy who has earned a reputation of hitting any given part of a car travelling at SO miles an hour. Still such forms of diversion are expensive to the motorist, and it behoves parents, teachers, and others in authority to deal sternly with the offenders. DANGEROUS GOODS. Proposed new regulations relating to the storage of petrol and other dangerous goods were considered by the City Council at its last meeting. The By-laws Committee reported that the deputy Chief Inspector of Explosives has been in communication with the committee regarding the Government's request that the Council should amend the City by-laws relating to the storage of dangerous goods and the fees to be naid upon the issue of licenses to store stio.h goods. As the making of a by-law to amend the existing one would involve considerable work and some rime would elapse before the amending by-law could be entorced, the committee recommended that the Government be requested to make regulations under the Dangerous Goods Amendment Act, 1920, to take effect as by-laws within the citv similarly to what was done in the case of the Wellington City Council, and that a new scale of fees be adopted. ' . "Dangerous Goods of Class I. included petroleum spirit, i.e., benzine, benzole, benzolene, gasoline, naphtha, motor spirits, distillate, and most of the other mineral spirits used in motorcar engines, liquids or materials consisting wholly or in part of acetone, carbon bisulphide, or ether, and having a true flashing point less than 73deg. F. . "Dangerous Goods of Class II." included petroleum, i.e., kerosene (but not lubricating oils), methyl, alcohol, turpentine or turpentine substitutes, absolute alcohol, methylated spirits, spirits of wine.. . . "Dangerous Goods of Class 111. included phosphorus (yellow), calcium carbide. . . Tho committee desired to point out that in the new scale of fees provision was made for a license to be obtained for tho storage of dangerous goods for private use only, and that would necessitate owners of private motor-cars and motor-cycles taking out a license if they stored petrol-on their premises. The committee's report and recommendations were adopted. A demonstration of the latest improvement in regard to motor-o.vr lamps, known as "McLean's adjustable bead-light," will l*t held. this evening at' 3 o'clock at Mr Cameron Wall's Garage, No. 244 Durham street, Christ-., church. Motor-car ownors aro invited to be present.

A new invention for repairing any pneumatic motor or bicycle, tyre that has hurst has recently been placed on tlie New Zealand market, and lhas attracted considerable (attention frcni those who go a-whcel. The apparatus is very compact, and practically foolproof. For a 4in motor-car tyre ifc weighs ill) only, and can be applied in five minutes, and a 3in burst in an outer cover is easily fixed up. In ten minutes a roadside repair can be effected, including repair of tube. Mr E. Audibert, of E. 'Wilson and Co., '245 Madras street, who is the inventor, claims that by the use of his device ho is able to repair a burst tyro while you wait (without vulcanising) sufficiently to allow a motorist to travel up to 500 miles, and, what is more, the covr.* •will stand a. pressure of 1001b to the square indh without swelling at the damaged part. The patent, which is known as tho E.W.G. repair outfit, is protected throughout the world. (5