NOTES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18430, 10 July 1925, Page 4

NOTES.

The "Works Committee of the City Council reported At last Monday night's meeting that it luid ordered 700 gallons of a cold bituminous hinder and scaler at a cost of £B7 10s. The production was of British manufacture and was being extensively used in t-ho Old Country for sealing work. The order was in the nature of a trial.

Mr McNamara, assistant secretary of tho Post and Telegraph Department, A'a-s in 'Christchurch during the last two days and conferred with J. S. Hawkes. Secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association on matters connected with identification plates and ether subjects of interest to the motoring fraternity He left, yesterday lor Dnuedin. lie irill return later to Christchurch and trill subsequcnly visit tho West Coast.

The Nash N.Z. Motors, Ltd. announce the opening of their new sales and service station at 114 Oxford terrace. The New Advanced Sixes and Special Six Nashs. which achieved'a waiting list of 7800 at the factory at tho commencement of the present season, are exhibited in the showroom in a, -way that facilitates a clear understanding of Nash's success.

The Vacuum Oil Co.. P£y., Ltd., has arranged with the Dominion Radio, Ltd., 2YK, of Wellington, to broadcast a series of 12 lectures of genenU interest to motorists. Tho lectures will bo broadcast on Thursday nights ab approximately f> o'clock, the. first being arranged to be given last night.

Advice -was received yesterday that tho road from Christchurch to lianincr was in good condition, while the inland road to the Conway was also all right. Care, .should, however, bo exercised in the vicinity of Wandlc Bush.

During the last few days there hasbeen quite a rush to secure licenses to drive, and the rate of issue has now reached an average of about SO a dav. In addition to the Citv Traffic Inspectors, the police are on'tho look-out for offenders, and as a result of the combined vigilance of tho officials mentioned a number of cases are to come before the Magistrate's Court to-day.

CANTERBURY ROADS. COMMENT BY SPORTS CLUB. Tho. following comment on Canterbury roads and traffic legislation is made in tho annual report of tho Pioneer Sports Club:— The club still contributes its quota to tho maintenance of Dyer's Pass road, and it is hoped an improvement on the surface will bo shown this year. Tho main roads generally, throughout Canterbury, arc in a'bad condition. This is to some extent, duo to severe weather conditions -lately experienced, and the great increase in traffic, but it is also felt that a good many of the local bodies are shirking their responsibilities in the matter, as they aro vory slow to mako uso of their share of the £200,000 (South Island's share of the Highways Fund) which motorists havo contributed for the improvement of the roads. The action of some of the North Island local bodies is in sharp contrast, it being stated that in some counties they have struck rates as high as 10d in tho pound to meet the necessities of road improvement. It is hoped that the South Island Motor Union will mako every endeavour to use its influence in the direction of a speedy improvement in the roads.

It is pleasing to record, however, that there now seems every .prospect of having a traffic bridge over the Selwyn River, in the very near future. The South Island Union has forwarded recommendations to the Government for amendments to the Highways Act, which will allow the Board to give £ for £ to local bodies for maintenance, and also to give the Board wider powers to make grants in proportion to through traffic.

We have been assured that there are good prospects of the recommendations being adopted, and when this is done, there is no doubt greater activity will bo shown by the local bodies in road improvement.

Since last annual meeting, the Motor Vehicles Act has been passed, and is satisfactory to a degree, but tho registration plates issued have proved very unsatisfactory, and recently j-our representatives met the Minister of Internal Affairs, the head' of the Department concerned, and others in-; terested, to consider the system to be adopted next year. 8o far wo have not been notified what has been decid ed on. but the Counties and Municipal Associations tvero in agreement with the motor organisations that the pre sent system was unsatisfactory, and it is honed that the conference will bear good frii'fc.