NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20273, 26 June 1931, Page 6

NOTES.

Eyesight requirements for motorists, under the New Boads Trafilo Aet of England, demand the ability to read a motor-car license plate containing six letters and figures at a distance of twenty-five yards. In the opinion of the British Medical Association, anyone who cannot bring his vision up to this standard, with the help of suitable glasses, cannot be regarded as a safe driver of a motor vehicle. "The average car-owner, statistics reveal, drives an automobile which delivers only between 70 and 75 per cent, of its efficiency simply due to improper maintenance," according to Mr Wilson S. Isherwood, chairman of the development committee of the Motor and Equipment Association of U.S.A. which is sponsoring an educational movement to aid motorists in better caring for their cars. A trick which is being employed la England either with a mischievous or a felonious motive, for the purpose of inducing motorists to stop, is to leave a parcel, or what appears to be a parcel, lying on the road. There are still rumours to the effefct that America has an eye on the world's land speed record. It is stated that Harry Hartz is to construct a car with two 16-cylinder engines, and that the attempt will be made on the dried-up Muroo lake in Calif oriia, It was there that the late Frahk-jSockhart covered a mile at 164.01 m.p.a. with & 1467 e.c. Miller, a class record that is likely to stand fox ever.-'

It is being appreciated in U.S.A, that many physical features of the landscape that now interfere with the maintenance of the roads or are offensive and confusing to traffic could be converted into usefulness and beauty by proper treatment. "Ivanknackinknockmnuteoff" was tho name given to one of the observed hills in tho Irish Open Championship Trial run by tha Ulster M.C.C. At Sandown Park races in Engjand recently two of tho winners were named Lagonda and Triplex, white tho following day Benzol won at Haydook Park. Much expense and trouble can be avoided by proper care and inspection of the battery at regular intervals. Have the battery regularly inspected ouce a month or oftener. See that the terminals are clean, using a knife to tho corrosion. Then coat the terminals with vaseline or a similar substanoe before fastening the battery connexions. Keep the distilled water in the battery to the recommended level, which should be checked every two weeks. If tho drain on the battery from starting and lighting has been particularly severe, it may bo necessary to have it recharged. . According to the Rev. Dr. Hetherwick, lecturing in St. Giles's Cathedral' Edinburgh, recently, the mascot •is the modern representative of tho African charm, the use of which, under the influence of education and the Gospel, the African is discarding, but which, dropped by him t the civilised man and woman nave picked up.

Trouble may result from allowing petrol to get low in the tank, as this may caftise sediment and water to be sucked into the feed line.

Irritating squeaks that develop in the springs are due to moisture and dirt that have worked between the spring leaves. Like the rest of the car, springs should be washed frequently. Then they should be sprayed with some penetrating oil. If,they look rusty it might be well to touch them up with a paint brush to improve their appearance in conformity with the rest of the" oar. Spent oil drained from the engine will be found very useful as a dressing for wooden fence and other exposed woodwork which is not painted. The oil should be applied with a stiff brush, and it will readily be absorbed by fairly dry wood; thus forming a rotproof protection. The misalignment of a wheel grinds away the tread of rubber tyres and puts an end to the useful life of the casing long before its inbuilt mileage has Tieen delivered./ Bent rims and flanges quickly lead to tyre failure. Rusty rims are another thing to avoid. Tyre scuffing is often caused by the front wheels not having the proper alignment. ,In many cases, however, the undue wear is the result of not l maintaining the correct air pressure in the tyrss. ' London's transport figures are re- 1 markable. There are 5500 buses, 118 miles of tubes and underground railway, and 2747 trams run on 345 miles of tramlines. STEADY AS A ROCK. Dependable— Never gets panicky— Always a good Fine' company. Yet he used to bo moody—irritable. Marshall's Fospherine made, 'a new .man of him. A splendid nerve tonic. Not a drug but a real food. Absolutely revitalises the system. v "Marshall's" is sold by all chemist* and stores. 100 d6q.es-for 2s 6& £ook six-sided oartco, —Bl,