NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 9 (Supplement)

NOTES.

. The North Shore Expansion League has issued maps which should be useful to motorists touring within 30 miles or 40 miles of Devonport. The. maps are issued free at the ferry offices. We suppose when the speeding locomotives strikes a spot between the tracks simultaneously with the automobile, it is not improper to designate it as a dead heat, at least so far as the automobile is concerned. The City Council has agreed to improve the dangerous curves in Ayr Street, Parnell, by utilising a portion of an adjoining property. This wiso elimination of the corkscrew bend should not bo without its effect on the Newmarket bottleneck. The railway crossing peril is being brought vividly before motorists. Among the dangerous points in the South is the Ruataniwha Street' crossing in the main street of Waipukurau. The blunt American warning is opportune: "To avoid that run down feeling, cross crossings carefully.'' Ihere is a club in New York devoted to the laziest men in the world. Any attempt by a member to hurry is punish - ablo by a fine. One day a member was seen driving his car past the- club at a high rate of speed. Summoned before the committee, he excused himself by saying that he was too lazy to take his foot off the accelerator. It is probable that two uniformed officers of the A.A.A. will be seen on the roads before the end of the summer. The intention is to patrol the main highways and give advice or assistance to motorists in distress. This may necessitate a sidecar outfit with specfal equipment. This is one of the most progressive moves maue by the A.A.A. in nearly a quarter of a century of service to motorists. . The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders of Great Britain recently allocated £2OOO to subsidise New Zealand motor dealers in advertising the vehicles they represent. Over half the sum has been spent and it is worthy of note that although car sales have been very low, compared with last year, the British vehicle has not shared in the falling off to the same extent as other products. With the exception of the Hawke's Bay County Council the Auckland local bodies are the only strong advocates for concrete roads. Wellington is wedded to bitumen. The Hawke's Bay County Council constructed one mile of concrete road south of Napier last year, although this body is by no means opposed to bitumen sealing. The County Council now proposes to ask for a subsidy for sealing four miles between Napier and Petane, and to lay another one and a-half miles of concrete between Napier and Hastings. The luminous studs which have been affixed to some of the "silent policemen" in the city are meeting with the approval of motorists. One of the objections to the unlighted domes is that they lose their value and even become a danger at night. The luminous studs on the dome at the intersection of Khyber Pass and Park Road give an excellent effect with any efficient headlight. The luminous sign at the Great South Road junction in Newmarket has been favourably remarked on by strangers to the city. These luminous devices are being used extensively in Great Britain, and experience so far is decidedly in favour of tJieir general application on New Zealand highways. An Australian lady motorist who has been touring in the South Island came north this week and reached Auckland via the central route through Taihape and Taumarunui. As a stranger she was not a ware that this route is never taken in preference to travelling through New Plymouth or Napier. The party branched inland at Marton and encountered some very rough going through the centre of the island. This is a mistake which might easily be made by the overseas tourist, but it would prove a disastrous selection in winter. Where alternative routes branch from a town, large signboards describing the surfacing and giving the tourist some guide to selection would bo appreciated. * TWENTY YEARS AGO. Exactly 20 years age the Auckland Automobile Association organised a tour to Waitomo. The trip had been arranged for Christmas', but on account of threatening weather it was postponed until January 3, 1908. Twelve cars turned out and the trip was made without mishap. Xit was deemed advisablo to break the run for the night at Hamilton. An account of the run in the New Zealand Herald on January 11, 1908, states: "On Saturday morning the p started on (he second day's run of 53 miles. This proved very interesting. The majority went through Te Awamutu and Otorohanga while srveral cars journeyed via Cambridge. From Otorohanga they had to pass through private property for about a mile. The Government roads inspector had kindly arranged this matter and he had several bad places filled in and had bridged the swampy pieces with fascines. It is understood that the Government is negotiating for this piece of land and is putting through a* properly formed ro'id over the gap. When this is done the road from Hamilton to Waitomo will be a good summer motoring route." AUSTRALIAN SPARK PLUGS. The Australian Tariff Board recently received an application from a firm which seeks a protective tariff on spark plugs. At the hearing the representatives of the Australian factory said that £20,000 had been spent in plant. It was stated that Australian consumption was 2,000,000 plugs a year. The Motor Traders' Association is resisting the application on the ground that it will be difficult to arrange for the importation of cars without plugs.