THE MOTOR WORLD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 December 1924, Page 14

THE MOTOR WORLD

MOTOR TRIPS. Information regarding roads and the beauty spots of the country is always welcome. Already there have been smie delightful week-ends this spring, and the call of the open road has prved irresistible to many car-owners, there are many beauty spots and ideal picnic grounds within a few miles of tne town, and many of them may be unknown to a number of motorists. r lhe editor would consider it a favour ix readers would send him particulars or' week-end runs and a description of the roads traversed. ‘ -SAFETY FIRST.” TRAINING SCHOOL CHILDREN. Writing of the campaign to educate school children to exercise care and observe the rules of the road, Mr J. Stephenson, hon. secretary of the Opui nake branch of the Automobile Asso- | ciation, says: Mr C. O. Edmonds and myself addressed the children at the Public School here, thanks to the courtesy of the headmaster, Mr Burgess, who is very much in sympathy with the “Safety First” movement. ,1 was sorry, however, to have a call ' from him at my office this morning to ask, and quite rightly so, too, what was the good of lecturing the children when a small racing Ford car find a big ’bus were allowed to have a race aloiig the main street, here last night. It certainly would tend the children to laugh at and scoff at our lecture. There cannot be the slightest doubt that it is no earthly good us talking about “Safety First” unless motorists da their part. MANATA DISTRICT. Mr A. G. Bennett writes: Just a line to let. you know that yesterday Mr Long and myself visited, the Manaia (2), Kapuni, Oeo and Otakeho schools and addressed the children. We were well received by the different head teachers, and were listened attentively to bv the children. We visited Auroa, hut-were unable to address the children there, as they were away from the .school, some being in the hall preparing for a concert and the other pupils being at a calf competition. I have written to the headmaster giving him the points of our address, and asking him to address his children thereon. A most unusual incident took place at Kapuni, where a vote of thanks to the lecturers was proposed by one of the pupils and seconded by another.

PICTURESQUE COUNTRY TRIPS IN NORTH AND SOUTH.

The Auckland branch of the New Zealand Tourist League has lost no f ine in “ discovering” a veritable fairy grotto—in the. Auckland province, of course —that is expected to outrival all other tourist attractions in New Zealand for the time being (says the Christchurch Star). It is impossible not to admire the thoroughness of these Aucklanders, and their determination to make every post a winning post, and other provinces could follow tlieii- example with advantage. The papers adds that the - Alpine attractions of the Mount Cook, region, the glorious mountain and bush scenery of the West Coast, and the sunny wheat fields and pastures of the Canterbury plains, offer unrivalled attractions to tourists who wish their holidays to be • primarily health giving to mind and body.. And if any South Islander feels that an antidote is needed to Auckland tourist propaganda, let him procure, say, the .Progress League’s splendid little booklet, (< A Tour Through Westland,” or a copy of the Christmas number of the Star, or any of the various publications that illustrate the scenic charms of the South Island, and lie will have the ideal Christmas greetting to send to friends far op near.

MAIN Iit)ADS. Those who are; anticipating a Christinas tour will he pleased to hear that Ihe Maih South Eoad has now been sign-posted from Leithfield to the Piuff. This has been done by the various associations throughout the island, and is a monument to the organisations concerned. The secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association, Mr J. S. Ilawkes. said recently that the road was now in first class condition. Such a state can only be brought about and retained by the motorists realising that their respective associations have to keep regularly on the alert and keep reminding the local authorities concerned as to the repairs necessary. Therefore, the small annual '> subscription should b.g paid promptly so as to enable the associations to carry on with the good work.

MAIN ROADS.

Warkworth-Waby.—This road is in very bad order, as also is the Matakana Hill. The best route north at present is through Leigh.

New P 1 y inoutli-Te Kuiti. —This road is in good condition according to the last report issued by the Taranaki Automobile Association. Waiwera Road.—Last week-end this road was in a very greasy state, but it had dried again by Monday, and from accounts to hand is now passable, if somewhat rough in places. Market Road. —A start has been made with the levelling of the slight lise on the western side of the intersection of the Great South Road. Plough work was started on Wednesday. Further on the road requires atnition. pot-holes having become ve.. numerous of late. Manawatu Gorge.—A local resident is much impressed with the improvements that have been effected in the Manawatu Gorge, and reports that it is now possible for two c-ars to pass in safety at practically any point in this onee-treacherous road. The work is being pushed ahead with expedition, and there only remains about twenty or thirty chains of wall to be erected at tlm Woodville end of the Gorge. Gisborne-Napier.—That the GisbomeXapier road will be in tlie near future the finest highway among hills in the Dominion is the opinion of a press representative. Over the majestic range extending from Morere to Muriwai, tourists may now travel this road in the well-appointed service cars with every confidence, and view some of the grandest valleys and mountain scenery in New Zealand, and the GisborneNapier trip.will soon become the tourist’s favourite journey. The many fine hostels situated in ideal spots acid much to the pleasure and comfort of travellers.' AN ODD MOTOR-CYCLE. A hoy named Arthur Jack Reynolds should make a name for himself as an engineer. He was injured recently in England through falling between "two

tramcars when riding a motor-cycle that he had made himself out of odds and ends with a perfectly remarkable engenuity. The driving-wheel' of the machine was cut out of a rough piece of wood; and boot polish tins, corks, and an old bicycle saddle stuffed with horse-hair and fastened with wire all played their part in the construction of the motor-cycle. The machine took Reynolds six months to make, and he ! succeeded in getting a year’s license , for it. He had been riding it fori about six months. m MAKING MOTORING SAFE. All sorts of warnings are being to make people more careful of the dangers of modern motor traffic. The most novel is that at Sideiip, in Kent, j where the land lighthouse, flashing j every second and visible two hundred | yards away, warns night motorists of ; a dangerous corner. The lamp, an ingenious invention, burns for' a year without attention and at a cost of only 30s, the light being compressed acetylene gas. Mirrors.are often seen at bad curves, but after more than ten years’ use their value is being questioned, and to-day the experiment is being tried of painting broad white stripes the surface, to mark the middle of the road at corners. These stripes prevent the dangerous practice of overtaking 5 * at bends. In Paris the road authorities have been driven to build street signal boxes, a sort of glass cabin in which the police controller sits and turns discs painted white on one side and red oh the other. An electric bell is rung to announce the turning of the disc.

LONDON STREETS

In London 'the authorities have found that the bitumen coated streets are a danger to motor traffic in wet weather, said Mr A. E. Smith, of Smith’s Motors Ltd., in conversation regarding his trip to Great Britain. He said that when new roads are now laid down, they consist of a foundation of concrete, upon , which is laid wooden blocks, the surface of which, is covered with tar and screenings. The tar used is not a coal product, but is the residue obtained from some of the oil refineries of the United States. The effect of the screenings' is to give a practical 11011-skid surface, and it is hoped that this will prevent traffic accidents ill wet weather. FOR TOURISTS.

The list of hotels at which motorists who are members of the Automobile Union can secure concessions has been issued by the union and lists have been sent round to all members of the South Taranaki Association. A feature of special interest is that 'the concessions apply to the member and his family or friends travelling with him. The list gives nearly a hundred hotels at which concessions may, be enjoyed.

This in itself should be sufficient- to induce every motorist' to join the association. The subscription of a guinea can be more than saved in one trip. . . .

A. GREiAjl 1 INVENTION. j If we could cut- the weight- of our motor-cars in half, what a remarkable revolution in niotpr construction and motoring it would make. For one thing, we would require much less powerful engines to do the same < work, and that would mean much less running, expenditure in the way of fuel. Such a possibility would now, however, appear to be looming in the future, if we may judge by the physical properties of a 1 new aluminium alloy, the invention of a Swiss scientist, who is now seeking capital support in Europe for his invention. Mr. Henry Sturmey, in The Motor (Eng.) states that lie lias some particulars of this new 1 develo-p----•ment, including the results of tests made both by the department of Physics of the University of Zurich and by others, and the results recorded are so striking that he is sure motor engineers will be interested, in. view of the possibilities which'an-alloy with such characteristics lipids out. Speaking in round figures, although the alloy weighs only 10 per Cent, more than pure alii minium, which in itself is approximately only onethird the weight of cast iron, it is j shown to- possess the strength of all but the very highest grades of 'Steel. If we assume that thickness and dimension's ‘ of parts and material remained as now, the reduction ill weight- of the metal parts of our ears should be well over 50 per cent. But with greater strength in the material, smaller dimensions would be used, and the saving in weight should, consequently, be greater still. . Of course, other material than metal enters into some parts of our cars, but- when all is said and done, these portions only account for a comparatively small amount of the gross weight of the vehicle, and allowing for these other materials, the weight of which would not, of course, be affected, he does not think it is at A all unreasonable to surmise a possible 50 per cent-, reduction in car weight-. Now, as to the metal itself. As stated it is an aluminium alloy, but it differs from all other aluminium alloy, but it differs from all other aluminium alloys in the fact- that it is an all-metal alloy. lij other words it is a mixture of aluminium and other metals, instead of the infusion into a batch of aluminium of chemical substances. Most of the high qual- j ity aluminium alloys of to-day contain magnesium, but there is no magnesium used, so- that certain drawbacks in the use of this metal are not present. The material can bo produced either as castings or in sheets, Jbars, etc., and, so far as castings are concerned, the inventor is making an experimental sot of cylinder castings for the Maybach (Mercedes) engine. In casting formsand cartings—it- is claimed that the tensile strength, which can be regulated at will, can he as high as 311tons per -square inch, whilst- in -sheet or bar form, a tensile -strength can be - attained of just under 45 tons, which, it will be admitted, fs very high. ]u

castings, elasticity runs from 1 per cent, to .Pi per cent, m 2 ms., anu m bar or sheet from 2.3 to 8 per cent. 'These. characteristics can lie obtained as desired with ‘certainty within 5 per cent. Castings of this material are claimed to be 1 harder than ot-liqr, and. to .be flawless, whilst- possessing superior heat-cbnuiicting, which would appear to make it particularly suitable for engine work. The metal is stated to machine cleanly and fast and to be perfectly uniform in texture. It can also be recast without loss in temsile strength, and’ shrinking has been eliminated. “All-metal” (the name it- lias been given) castings ring and have a uniform grain like tdol steel, with a- -yield point of approximately 80 per cent., as against 23 to ifO.per cent, of < other metals. In sheets and bars it’ has a Brinnell hardness’ of 95-104, -and can be rolled, drawn, pressed or forged, and bent up to 180 degrees when required, whilst another great advantage which is claimed for it is that it has great resistance against' sulphuric gases and carbon 1 dioxides, and it is stated that several pieces emersed in sea- water for months together showed no- signs of corrosion, so that it would appear to be also a rustless metal. Tests made at Stuttgart, in the German Government- laboratories, with a sand-casting after annealing to a- heat of 300 degrees centigrade, -showed a. tensile strength of just under 38 lb per square inch, with an elongation of 14.3 per cent. It is also- stated that the cost, does not greatly exceed that of aluminium. If the possession of the characteristics is correct, as thev would appear to be, this new alloy should be of very great utility in industry, and in no- industry more particularly than in motor manufacture.

IN THE HIGHLANDS. . : Then followed an inspection of the Franz Josef glacier at Waiho a couple of hours being spent on the wonderful river of ice and snow, some nine miles long and a, mile in breadth. One distinguishing feature about the glacier is that it is the lowest in the world outside the Arctic regions, being 630 ft only above sea level. At the foot of the glacier ,is the source of the Waiho River, where great blocks of ice break off and thaw to start a. stream which develops into , a formidable breadth and deapth, according to the seasons. In had weather ,it is impossible to ford the river, but a suspension bridge caters for pedestrians. The return to Hokitika occupied from 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., hut what happens in unfavourable weather is emphasised by the fact that a service* car occupied seven hours longer, while another was held up by the river, which rises and falls with surprising rapidity. As heavy rain had swollen the rivers to an ini-, passable condition, the car had to *he railed from ’Hokitika to- Springfield., forty miles' from Christchurch, . which town was reached on Saturday, November 15. After the week-end journey was resumed to Tiniani, “112 miles and as flat as a pancake except for the holes,’'’ testified the' driver. Ho added that in the South Island wherever the roads followed the railways they were in an indifferent condition, being liberally sprinkled with pot holes.