MOTORS and MOTORING.

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 57, 1 December 1923, Page 22

MOTORS and MOTORING.

(BY

“SPOTLIGHT.”)

HIGHWAYS SCHEME IMPETUS NEEDED FROM SOME SOURCE. No very great enthusiasm is being displayed’by the county councils in forming the various district highways councils under the Highways Act. Unless a forward move is made at once so far from the Highways Board being able to proceed with actual construction in April next it may have to spend some months in stirring the counties up to make a start, and the scheme as a whole may be delayed another year in consequence. The Act apparently contemplates that the initiative in recommending what roads should be declared main roads shall be taken by the district councils. The actual proclamation of tho roads, however, is. by Order-in-Council. The roads having been proclaimed the Highways Board steps in and takes charge, either carrying cut the maintenance work itself or delegating it to the counties concerned subject to the work being done to its specifications. Only one district —Poverty Bay—seems so far to have reached the stage of naming the main roads in its area. In some other districts there seems to to be a feeling of uncertainty as to how far the scheme extends and what roads should be nominated for proclamation as main roads and secondary highways, and what amounts are likely to be available for them. An idea is also prevalent in . some parts that the amount of assistance from the Highways Iffind will be negligible unless the counties are willing to incur heavy expenditure themselves. It has been suggested to “Spotlight” that county council interest in the scheme would be greatly stimulated if the Highways Board would draw up a list of the roads throughout the whole Dominion which it recommends for proclamation as primary and secondary highways and gave a general indication of how far the funds Ute.y to be available in April next will go in maintaining and improving such roads. A move by the Highways Board on these lines would give the district councils something tangible to go on. They would be given a grasp of what was proposed for the Dominion as a whole, and an approximate idea of how much money would be available for their districts. Furthermore, such a step would develop a feeling in those districts which have so far done nothing that it would be wise to get busy without delay and put forward counter proposals lest routes in the Highways Board list of which they were not in favour were proclaimed main roads by Order-in-Council.

Tho original proposals in connection with the main roads scheme was that certain specified -highways should be named in the Act itself, and takfin over by the board. Objections were raised to -these routes and in the Act -as passed it was left open to the District Councils to get in first ami name the roads in their areas. The District Councils have had plenty of time to do this, and unless the scheme is to lapse over large areas of the Dominion it would seem that the only course is for tho board to send out its own proposals for the defaulting areas, and in the absence of objections for the Government to proclaim those roads as main highways. The knowledge that

some such steps would follow on continued inactivity would almost certainly cause the sonnolent District Councils to bestir themselves, and bring down their counter-proposals. How far the Highways Board has power to go in tho face of inactivity by tho local councils is an open point. The Act makes no very specific provisions on this point, but seems to take it for granted that the various bodies will all work together in harmony and accord. Where District Councils do nothing, however, tho Highways Board, would seem to be well advised to interpret its powers in tho widest sense sooner than let the scheme collapse by default over large areas. Tho various automobile associations and other organisations interested in the provision of good roads should give the board the strongest support in pushing on and making main highways improvement a reality. Tho lack of interest in the work by the local bodies will disappear once the benefits to be derived are realised, but at the moment a tremendous amount of prejudice has to bo overcome to start tho ball rolling. With motor vehicles pouring into the country as they are at present it will be disastrous for .the various parties to the highways scheme to sit back and wait for the other side to make a move. Tho roads as they are at present cannot possibly carry this rapidly increasing traffic. SELLING A CAR In selling a car the first object of the would-be seller should be to make the car look as attractive as possible to the potential purchaser. As a writer in the London “Motor” emphasises, it is “looks” that first take a man’s fancy, for if ho likes tho appearance of.a car at the beginning it is not nearly so difficult to convince him of its excellence from other points of view. Washing and polishing should bo done with more than usual care; tho insides of the wings, the axles, brale drums, undershield, in tact, all the concealed as well as the visible parts, should be spotlessly eleiniod. A little blacklead or paint should be applied wherever there are traces of rust; rubbing with a rag before the paint is quite dry will cause the new paint to match the old. The coachwork should be well polished with some reliable furniture cream, the hood, if of leather, repainted or rubbed up with boot polish, and spots and stains removed with petrol if it is of the fabric type. As many parts of tho chassis as can bo got at without too much difficulty should be washed clean with paraffin and a brush, and all bright parts highly polished. The engines should receive particular attention in this respect. It is not advisable to give cast aluminium parts a coat of aluminium paint, as this, while certainly adding to the appearance, is apt to make the would-be buyer suspicious of cracks and fractures beneath the paint. The brakes should be properly adjusted, and every part well oiled or greased, and the car tuned up, so far as time will allow, to run really welt. If the jootentiai purchaser, having been thoroughly satisfied by a preliminary examination, demands a trial, he may then be taken for a short run with all confidence, end will no doubt, if satisfied, make a favourable decision.

MUNGAROA HILL

WORK PRACTICALLY STOPPED.

A fortnight ago . “Spotlight” gave Mie date of completion of the Munguroa Hill improvements, on the Wet-linwton-Wairarapa road, as about February. It appears, however that in order to complete the Mangahao hydroelectric works the bulk of the men at Mungaroa have been transferred there, and "only a handful remain. Unless more labour is obtained it is thus difficult to say when the Mungaroa improvements will be completed. The Mungaroa Hill is the worst stretch now remaining on tho Wairarapa road, amt urgent, as the completion of Mangahao is, it is a pity that this much-needed improvement should have to be held over. Possibly representations by the automobile associations might induce the Public Works Department to make an effort to obtain the labour necessary to push on with the work without allowing it to stand over until the Mangahao scheme is complete. In its present half-finish-ed state the hill is rather rougher than it was before the improvements were begum SAFETY FIRST ESSAYS HUMOUR OF CHILD WRITERS. Not a little ingenuity as well as literary ability and humour . were shown by the child competitors in tho sixth annual essav competition, conducted by the London Safety First Council in schools throughout the metropolitan and citv police areas No fewer than 161,000 pupils from 100/ schools took part. Miss Lena Ashwell, at Kmgsway Hall, presented 10l money prizes and 800 "first-class diplomas to succesful essayists, and handed a special diploma and ten guineas to Ada Piper, a o-irl pupil of Croyland Road Council School Edmonton, the winner of the Safety First Scholarship awarded to the, best essay. The following was tho subject set for the essay: — “The poster before you represents a policeman on dutv at a dangerous crossing. Write a story, of .not more than 500 words, in which tho policeman tells of the narrow escapes he has seen and of the accidents be has witnessed. which might diave been avoided by the observance of safety first rules.” Budding Rhymsters. The inclusion of rhymes in the essays is becoming more common. Iho following is an example of admirable if somewhat callous brevity: “There was once a boy named Sam Who ran behind a tram. A. motor-car took off his legs. For his living now he begs.” One little girl transplants her policeman to a- party and seems to have modelled her stylo on that of certain writers of the nineteenth century. She begins thus: “A short time ago. in a select suburb of London, a small party was held at which a. taxi driver, n_bus condiic-

tor, a policeman, and a commercial traveller were present, and the conversation naturally drifted on to tho subject of accidents witnessed by these people.” Ono essayist speaks of a child who was knocked down, and picked up covered with dust “a capito ad calcem,” and another begins his effort with a discussion of the Gnostic philosophy and the magic power of the word" “Abracadabra.” STANDING VEHICLE DANGER A CAUSE OF ACCIDENT. In view of tho proposal that vehicles using Wellington’s busiest thoroughfares must stop and stand somewhere, in them and not move through continuously, the following from “Motor Transport” is interesting:—“Motor Transport” points out that tho majoritv of street accidents may lie attributed to reckless and inefficient driving, but refers also the not inconsiderable number of mishaps which aro due to carelessness of drivers when stopping their vehicles for any purpose. It directs attention to the. danger of drawing up vehicles in positions where they cannot be seen by other drivers except at close quarters, and particularly to the practice of stopping a machine on sharp curves and. near corners. This is a matter to which we have repeatedly called attention. Only last week we pointed out the danger of it. Observations indicate that many drivers are not sufficiently careful in this matter, and there have, been many cases injvhich serious accidents have only been averted by the presence of mind of drivers coming suddenly round road bend’s and corners upon standing Vehicles offering considerable obstruction to their free passage, and constituting a potential death trap to whatever traffic might be passing that wav. Another dangerous practice, especially on curved roads or near corhers and road intersections, is the not uncommon one of nulling up a vehicle opposite or near to another standing on the other side of the road, leaving insufficient, or only just sufficient, room for traffic to pass between them; we have seen instances of this on curved thoroughfares where collisions have not occurred simply because other traffic has been absent before one or both of tho standing vehicles have moved on. Otherwise catastrophies would have been inevitable.

CONCRETE HIGHWAYS

AUCKLAND'S SEVENTEEN MILES OF THEM. Eight youra ago Auckland was the worst roadcd city in tho Dominion. Apart from asphalted or wood-paved business streets it had not an arterial traffic highway that was not a constant source of discomfort, excessive wear and tear on vehicles, and loss of time. To-day'the city has about 17 miles of concrete roads. Describing the present state of tilings a writer in the “New Zealand Herald’’ says: Thanks to the manner in which suburban local bodies co-operated with tho City Council, thero is a concrete road from Queen Street to Onehunga, a distance of about seven miles, except for a short stretch through Newmarket, which is soon to be attacked, and the Parnell grade, which is too steep for concrete. The Great South Road as far as tho- Harp of Erin, has been laid in this enduring material; there is one and a third milp of it along the Remuera Road from Newmarket boundary; over one mile in Ponsonby Road, and the ’ aggregate length is being extended at th,p rate of 112 ft. a day. The concrete roads already provided have made a mighty transformation in the city. Their value cannot be assessed in terms of cash. They have conferred upon the city a many-sided blessing, because 'the smooth, clean, dustless highway is closely related to thp progress and happiness of humanity. The enduring qualities of a roadmaking material are of paramount importance, and concrete, as it has been laid in Auckland, gives every indication that it will enduro for ages without entailing expenditure of any consequence in maintenance. The oldest length of concrete is that in Little Queen Street. It was two-coat work, and th© surface has been treated with a thin coat of asphalt. Tho only cost it has entailed has been that of renewing the asphalt, which has worked out at the rate of one halfpenny per square yard per annum.

No section of road carried more constant and heavier traffic than the approach to King’s Wharf. On a Saturday forenoon over 2000 vehicles have used it. The area was laid in concrete early in 1918, and during the intervening five and a half years the only maintenance cost has been the trivial amount required for treating tho joints with a preparation of tar. Yet the road shows little signs of wear. Certainly the fine original surface has been worn off. leaving a mosaic of stone and concrete, but the amount is hardly measurable. It is noticeable that tho wearing is absolutely regular. The concrete and the metal it binds together appear to be of the same toughness. Years ago, had! the metal been laid loosely and rolled, tho pieces of metal would have been worn round and them, knocked loose.

In striking contrast is Breakwater Road, leading across tho railway, the concreting of which has been delayed pending coming railway changes. It is a mass of holes and loose metal, and it requires repairs every eight months. One of the few places where the concrete surface has cracked is in Beach Road, beyond tho Anzac Avenue junction. Hero some filling was

done, and it was advisable to wait until the earth had completely subsided. A long, crack in the concrete was the result, but it was not a wide one. It was filled in with asphalt or bitumen, and the rood does not appear to have suffered in the smallest degree. Wherever concrete loads have been carried in the suburbs, more and lietter houses have been built. There is no dust to dull the gardens, and if one mistakes not, there is a new incentive to citizens to make their homes trim and neat in harmony with the new highway. Aucklanders have every reason for pride over the reading improvements of the last eight years, and for confidence in the present progressive and efficient policy. SECONDARY HIGHWAYS SURFACED ROADS TO THE EAST COAST.

A project is under discussion for laying a surfaced road from Dannevirko to the coast. Speaking in support of this at last week’s meeting of tho Dannevirke Chamber ol Commerce, Mr. It. S. Chadwick said that the Masterton people had already moved in the direction of making a highway from Masterton to Pongaroa. He mentioned that the road would lie tar-sealed and ultimately connect with the road to Dannevitke. It was a vital question to Dannevirke and district, and he thought the chamber would be quite within their rights if they werp to pass a resolution advocating tho making of a secondary highway from Dannevirke co the Coast and favouring the amalgamation of the counties, which would be in the best interests of the country. In view of the activity of neighbouring towns, they must keep their eyes open and make “every post a winning pest.” Members would agree with him that a good tar-sealed road from Dannevirke to tho Coast would be as good as a railway, and the Minister of Railways had said that no Government would build a railway alongside a well-made road. Mr. A. McNicol said the Highways Board in Hawke’s Bay were already moving in the matter of secondary reads. Ultimately there would be a secondary road from Dannevirke through to Masterton with a daily car service. A motion in favour of an amalgamation of the counties and the construction of such a highway was carried unanimously. TE KUITI-NEW PLYMOUTH ROAD The Te Kuiti-New Plymouth service cars have resumed running, and the road is now suitable for motor traffic, states the chairman of the New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League in a letter to the secretary of the Wellington Club, but until Christmas ho considered it advisable for private motorists to ascertain weather conditions before making the trip, as a few days’ rain might cause ten«porary trouble. The league would no pleased to telegraph information regarding the state of the road to the club on request.

JOTTINGS

"Spotlight” is pleased to see that the “Lyttelton Tinies” and Auckland “Star” think so highly of the matter he publishes as to adopt it as their own and print it without acknowledgment.

Apropos of the description last week of the interesting Marina country m the Nelson hinterland motorist anglers may be interested to know that Nelson advices are that the fishing in the Marina is excellent.

The certificates of nine drivers of motor vehicles were cancelled by tho Auckland City Council during the past twelve months for various reasons, states the “Herald.”

Speaking at tho first meeting of the committee of No. 12 Highway District, tho Grey representative is reported to have said that when in Melbourne he was told by a high official that the effect of the Main Roads Board had been practically to eliminate the loca» bodies. In Queensland, however, it had helped the local bodies considerably.—Tho point is, though, Did it make the roads any better? Lake Ferry in PaUiscr Bay is reported to be going ahead as a motor resort at week-ends. Tho “Wairarapa Daily News” states that there are now thirty or forty cottages there, while day parties from Featherston, Greytown, and Martinborough come down in cars and charabancs. Last weekend several parties went out flounder fishing and caught about 500 fish, mostly flounders.

Wairarapa South County Council has voted £lO towards the Wairarapa Automobile Association’s scheme for fencing the Rimutaka. Hill road.

A branch of the Wairarapa Automobile Association is being formed _ m Eketahuna as a result of a meeting of motorists convened by Messrs. Mqss and Turner. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Ivor Wilson, secretary of the Wairarapa A.A.

Speaking at Dannevirke the other day, the Minister of Public Morks laid emphasis on the necessity for local bodies employing the best engineering skill—good men with business Knowledge and good sound judgment. It might be said that they would not be able to obtain the services of first-class men, but he would say: Give the youngsters a chance. “It is your job and my job to take up these young fellows at- present in the technical schools and colleges and give them a thorough training,” said the Minister. It would bo found that in the course of a little while that many of these lads would become first-class engineers.

The collapsed Newmnn bridge on the main road north of. Eketahuna is expected to be completed and reopened in February or March next. The ford is stated to be good.

Says tho “Waikato Times”“Pen cannot adequately describe the conditions of the main Momnsnlle-Haniil-ton road at the Motumaoho factory and for a few miles further on. lhe side roads arc footpaths in comparison. It is in an awful state, and is one of the worst, if not the worst road in the whole of the Waikato. And that is saying a great deal. As a. matter oi fact, it isn’t a road at all. It is a series of lumps and holes, in some eases feet deep. It puts one in mmd of a track across undeveloped country The only road to compare with that portion of it is the one leading through tho returned soldiers settlement ”at Mangateparu.”

The. Poverty Bay District Highways Council has recommended that the Coast road (Gisborne to tho Matakaoa boundarv. Cape Runaway), the road from Gisborne via Makaraka to the Waikohit boundary on the way to Opotiki, and the Wairoa-Gisborno road, via Morere. be declared main roads. —This is the first Highway Council to got to tho stage of recommending roads.

The question of establishing branches of the. Automobile Association in North and South Taranaki is being considered by motorists in those districts. The “Herald” recalls that an effort was made to start an association in North Taranaki in 1914, but the war came on and the proposal was dropped.

A successful demonstration of th® Hamilton Borough Council’s road t>.rspraying machinery and reversible road roller was held the other day in the presence of members of the council and a number of visiting engineers at the west approaches to the traffic bridge.

Tn referring to the divergence of opinion between the North arid South Islands in connection with numbering sign posts versus colours, Mr. Ivor Wileon, secretary of the Wairarapa Automobile Association, stated at Ekotaliuna (according to the “Express”) that in the North Island it was found that colours would not stand owing to the heat. They had tried all sorts of red, but after a time it assumed a chocolate colour. The North Island wanted the numbering system of designating main roads, for the reason that black and white were lasting colours.