ECONOMICAL MOTORING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19376, 10 July 1926, Page 10 (Supplement)

ECONOMICAL MOTORING.

A,A. A. SERVICE CAR. -After a year's service the Auckland Automobile Association car has more than justified its acquisition. Its economical operation over 17,000 miles of typical New Zealand roads is a performance which may be taken as a general proof of the reliability of the English car under vigorous colonial conditions. The car and equipment cost £432. The financial statement to be submitted at the annual meeting next Wednesday sets down depreciation on the car at 20 per cent., or £B6 10s. Repairs and maintenance for the 17,000 miles cost £223. If depreciation is included the total cost of the car for the year is £314 10s. On a basis of 17,000 miles this is 4.4 d per mile. This figure is for a comfortablo five-seater 14 h.p. car. Ignoring depreciation, the cost is only per mile. Such figures are common in Britain where cheap repairs, tyres and petrol are obtainable, but for a car used on New Zealand roads the cost is decidedly low. Readers who have kept records of their own running expenses are invited to forward comparative figures.

ROAD CONDITIONS. The Matamata roads are a credit to the "county council, and, in spite of weather conditions, they are being maintained in excellent condition. The Auckland Automobile Association intends to include a route from Auckland to Napier, via Hauraki Plains, Te Aroha and Matamata in the book of trips now in preparation. 4 The Hauraki Plains Road is in very good condition. About miles are still unmetalled, and only one-third of a milp is liable to be really difficult. The worst section was dry enough on Friday to permit negotiation witnout chains. The opening of the Pipiroa Ferry will shorten the j£uckland-Tharjies route by nearly 10 miles. The A. A. A. has already signposted the new route. The Hamilton-Raglan Road bears the reputation of being dangerous. The surface .is now in excellent order, and the road is quite safe if ordinary care is exercised. The Main Highways Board is doing good work on the Taupiri-Ngaruawahia Road, and the metal is being blinded and rolled. If efficient maintenance programmes are carried out; this road should be one of th® best sections between Auckland and Hamilton. The 10-mile stretch from Ngaruawahia to Hamilton is being treated with a grader. ROTES. The gate takings at the Muriwai Beach races, in February,' ware £417. ; Owners of Ansaldo cars have organised a trip to-day for inmates of the Children's Hospital. a Three lectures on motor-carmaintenance were delivered under the auspices of the A.A. A. last year. It is the intention of the A. A. A. to organise further instructive programmer, this winter. It is rumoured that several motor vehicle owners in Auckland' have evaded relicensing by painting the old green number plates black and white and obscuring the letters " N,Z." Detection will no doubt result in a heavy penalty. Lady Motorist: "Is my car ready, please?" / Garage Manager: "No,' miss, 'l'm sorry; we had to send the magneto away and it has not been returned yet."

Lady Motorist: "Oh! that doesn't matter. I want to use the' car, so I'll take it as it is."

Harry Hairts, of Pomona, California, established a new world's record for 300 miles at the international automobile meet at Atlantic City in May. His time was 2 hours 14 minutes, which is an average speed of 135 m.p.h.—a wonderful speed to maintain for the driving time of over two hours.

A windshield which retains raindrops is dangerous. Failing a wiper, there are several chemical preparations which create a smooth film and ensure constant clarity for an hour or two. The mixture should be applied with £ soft cloth. The following is effective: —2oz. of glycerine, loz. of water, one dram of salt.

j Kbyber Pass Road is, in a disgraceful condition on the inward side of the tram rails in the vicinity of. Mountain Road. The slope from this point up to Grafton Road is not reasonably comfortable at a speed of 12 miles an hour. Why these few chains of an essential thoroughfare should have been excluded from the last concreting programme is beyond the comprehension of motorists.

MOTOR TRADE ITEMS. The programmes provided by the Buick Orchestra at Hoyes Motor showroom on Friday evenings are proving popular. Radio enthusiasts can receive the_ music relayed from IYA. A 15-30 h.p. Crossley established a new record of 35g hours for'the 1000 : mile run between Cape Town and Johannesburg on April 10. With this" feat, the Cape TownJoliannesiburg and Durban-Johannesburg records are now held by British cars. As a result of additions to the plant, 1600 Morris cars are produced each week. The maximum capacity last year was 1500 per weak, and-the total for 1925 was 48,712 cars. It is expected to exceed 60,000 cars this year, and the plant is being enlarged.