NEW ZEALAND CYCLISTS' TOURING CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 76, 27 September 1898, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND CYCLISTS' TOURING CLUB.

The report to be presented at the second annual meeting of the New Zealand Cyclists' Touring Club, to be beld in Wellington on 3rd October, states that the present membership is 1070. Afresh supply of badges has had to be ordered to cope with the demand. Owing to the delay in printing there has been a loss on the Handbook, bub this it is hoped to recoup by the sale of the stock in hand. During the year the Council has been successful in its crusade against obstructions of all kiuds on the public highways. This has been done without much expense to the club. The Railway Department is doing all in its power to minimise the risk and damage cycles are liable to when carried by rail. In addition it is conducting experiments in several directions with the object of ascertaining the most efficient means of carrying bicycles by train, either in large numbers or singly. Arrangements have been made with the Victorian and New Zealand Customs for passing members' cycles without further formality than the production of a certificate of membership for the current year. Also, arrangements have been made for the exchange of membership tickets with the English Cyclists' Touring Club, the New South Wales Cycling Touring Union, and the newly-formed Victorian Cyclists' Touring Union, so that members may receive the benefits accruing to members of. those bodies when touring in the Australian colonies and in those parts of the world where the English Touring Club has made arrangements. A large number of danger-boards have been imported, and sent to various consuls throughout the colony. Guide-posts have been erected, or are in course of erection, in Taranaki, South Marlborough, Canterbury, Wellington, &c. During the coming year tlie Council will endeavour to further this important part of its programme. One hundred additional danger- boards have been ordered, besides 50 caution-boards. The Council has also taken effective measures to prevent legislation by Parliament inimical to the interests of cyclists, and has endeavoured to secure the passing of a Bill to compel all jVehicles to carry lights between sunset aud suurise. In connection with the county and municipal bylaws it has also watched and carefully safeguarded the interests of cyclists. So well is this now understood that the Council has the satisfaction of being consulted and its advice obtained when new bylaws affecting cyclists are proposed. The Council has made special arrangements for the insurance of club members against accident at exceptionally reasonable rates, and has also secured special terms for policies covering periods for short holiday tours in any part of the colony. It has been at great pains to produce a really reliable road map of New Zealand. This has been mainly done by Mr. Donald RobertBon. The first section of the map is devoted to Canterbury, and the second to Otago ; others will shortly follow. The road book question is one which ti:e Council is vow devoting its attention to, and during the year it hopes to be able to issue a volume. The financial position of the club is strong, the operations of the year resulting in a surplus of £58 12s sd, which, together with the balance from last year, makes a total of £124. I