MAILS BY MOTOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 238, 1 July 1908, Page 8

MAILS BY MOTOR.

■■ /, ■ ■■ NEW SERVICE FOR WELLINGTON. :• Some months ago it was reported that tlio Post: and Telegraph Department were about to experiment with-motor traction: for the collecting and ■ delivery of mails - within the city, aha; an' order Vas placed with Messrs. Magnus, Sanderson and Co:', agents for tlio Canada Motor' and' Cycle Co., for a " Russell", mail ■ van This car • came .this 'week,\ and' on- Monday: the sec- • rctary (Mr. D.' Robertson) and ..assistant secretary '(Mr- W- .R. ; Morris) were taken for a drive .in the. new-vehicle by Mr.-Magriu^. The .motor .van,- which was inspected yesterday, has -a' decidedly, smart . appearance, arid ,in its scarlet. 'enaniol' and gold lettering looks like business. It is a two-cylinder* (double'' opposed) ;18: ,b'.p. car, with a square covered-itf. body,' or- carriage (both -light arid strong),' the roof of- which, is 'continued out about 3ft:'.in frorit'to' protect, the driver, who is comfortably -accommodated in soft leather' upholstery : -j ' Alongside the driver-/is a slide door admitting. to, the interiors/but the man'door is in the'eentre of the back of the van. , Within are 85-cubic feet of space, and, if necessary,'shelves could be fitted to separate. 'parcels- from other mail mattier. The .van is' fitted wiUi, Swinheart" solid rubber tires,;, but';to 'ease' the. road shock the carriage is: 'supported on special springs, which relieve the vibration, that would otherwise -result',from -the:-use" of 'solid tite's. A "gate", speed-change.,lever is'provided, arid thqre' aro two' brakes, the internal expansion ana external contraction, acting on the drum of;: the .rear:.wheels.-'. .The.car is .fitted with Solar'.' searchlights supplied with acetylene gas: from a' '".Miracle! 1 - generator. The car was.made at Toronto, Canada, and is. the first tb be used by the Government- exclusively,for* mail work.in the cities. The- Post, and . Telegraph 'Department twill, probably take over'djhe car to-day.''