NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 10 (Supplement)

NOTES.

A candid invoice—" To taking down magnets, finding trouble and putting same back as before."

Y Great Britain's motor spirit imports for 3 the first seven months of 1927 totalled «• 332,617,000 gallons i Omnibuses are to be substituted for trams in Burton-on-Trent on one route 3 which is over a mile long, * Automobiles in use in the State of New York are valued at £113,000. Livestock is r appraised at £51,000, less than half tlie „ value of motor-cars. 1 At least four cars carrying super- ! chargers as standard equipment will be 3 introduced at the British Olympia which » is held this month In Hamburg, Germany, is to be found a garage having a capacity of 450 cars, ' each of which is stored in a separate * compartment with practically air-tight I doors. i , Nearly .6000" miles of hew roads were ' constructed in Canada in 1926, The 1927 * programme shows signs of equalling this ■ total and the expenditure is .expected to reach £9.000,000. A very necessary but long deferred patching of Market Road is being carI ried out. To pour tar out of a bucket on to the road can hardly be described j as a scientific method of repair work. Nevertheless, anything is better than ' nothing. A writer in an English provincial newspaper has cast an entirely new and useful light upon the mystery of motor car fires "It is supposed," he writes, " that there was a slight leak in the magneto which allowed petrol to drop on the sparkling plug." So now we know 1 Applicants for driving licences in Washington, U.S.A., are required to fill in a form giving details of their height and features. Of thousands of applications mnny have described their eyes as pink, green, brindle. mottled, light, white, Japanese , hazel, mixed, yellow, blonde, bluish, and even "lavt." whatever that may be. American motor vehicle exports fnr 1927 are estimated to reach 600,000 units by Mr. A. Reeves, general manager of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, who has returned to the United States after seven weeks spent in investigation of motor transport in Europe. Mr Reeves declares that within two years America's exports should attain a rate of 1.000.000 motor vehicle's a vcar. According to the latest offn ial returns the total number of motor vehicles in Sweden is 120,800. including about. 25.900 motor-cycles. Of the total 14,000 are registered in Stockholm. The maioritv of the cars are of the light type, 26.000 coming within the 14-16cwt. taxation class. Of heavy private cars over 2 tons there are only about 300; and of buses and trucks over 3 tons in weight only 200 and 1000 respectively. Aberdeen Corporation is in communication with the larger cities in Scotland with the view to holding a conference regarding the appointment of disabled ex-service men as traffic controllers. At such a conference it is expected the powers of these controllers and how far they could be regarded as regular constables will be discussed. It is believed that the scheme will receive favourable consideration from the Secretary of State for Scotland. CLOSED OAR DESIGN. The saloon is the typical car of today and the future. It is preferred by many owner-drivers because it is always ready for use in all weather and keeps a reasonably smart appearance with a minimum of attention. Its interior display is more attractive than an open car, and it makes a special appeal to women whose choice influences to a great extent the sale of the majority of the cars purchased. The chief criticism which is levelled against th.' saloon is its lack of ventilation. Its defects in this direction are not so alarming as might be supposed from the opinions expressed by fresh-air enthusiasts, but nevertheless there is room for improvement in many bodies. Ventilation should be regarded as of the same importance as other factors of comfort, such as the design of the seats or the elimination of noise and rattle. The amount of ventilation required is, more or less, a matter of individual temperament. Some travellers seem to thrive in and enjoy an atmosphere which is regarded as stuffy and insufferable by others, but two persons whose preference in this direction differ widely can travel with equal, pleasure in the same car if adequate ventilation is provided 'automatically and at the right temperature. The front part of the body should be permanently well ventilated without having to open the main windows, and the screen, whether adjustable or should have a ventilator above it. The ventilation as well as the observational value of a saloon is considerably improved if the front part of the roof is made to open. If the roof is fitted with a fixed or hinged glass window this is liable to raise the temperature of the car on a hot day, so that it should be fitted with a blind, the best type being an outside one of waterproof material. As an additional means of ventilating the front of the body an air outlet above the window of the front doors is very effective Modern design leaves no room between 1 the door top and cant rail for any venti i lator. so that if one is to be provided ' here it must lie below the top lino of ( the door. A similar device mnv be fitted ] to the rear doors. A well-designed saloon 1 is one which is not merely pleasing to 1 th • eye and has luxurious seats. I<ut a t car which, provided with a scheme of \ ventilation, gives satisfaction under all I conditions of travel. c