NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20088, 27 October 1928, Page 12 (Supplement)

NOTES.

During the first eight months of this year 1,993,657 gallons of mineral lubricating oil was imported into New Zealand.

At the beginning of September there were 178,422 motor vehicles registered in New Zealand. Of these 22,188 were out of service, with no current number plates.

Tliero are ovor 22,000 cars in the South Auckland highway district, and if motor vehicles of all classes aro included tho total exceeds 33,600. In tho North Auckland district tliero arc 5000 cars.

The New Zealand Motor Trade Association has appealed to tho large oil companies (o take some steps to enablo resellers of bulk petrol to meet tho competition of merchants who are selling case petrol at about Is lOd a gallon.

Describing push-cyclists as "heroes of tho highway," a writer says, "tho pushcyclist should get tho V.C." And very appropriate it would bo for some of them if it stood for Very Careless.

According to tho American Bureau of Mines, tho oil production of the United States in 1927, totalling 961,129,000 barrels, was by far tho largest over recorded and showed a gain of 17 per cent, on tho figure for 1926

Motor spirit imports into New Zealand during tho first eight months of 1928 amounted to 36,773,580 gallons, as compared with 29,493,938 gallons in the same period of 1927. This huge increase gives somo idea of tho substantial annual increases to bo expected in petrol tax revenue).

After each ocean " hop" the lubricant was drained from tho engines of the Southern Cross. This routine was followed irrespective of the condition of tho oil. On tho flight from Blenheim to Sydney there was a loss of only eight per cent, in texturo and weight.

A British car manufacturer is offering non-splinteiing glass for windshields at an extra charge of only £2. Tho charge for screen and windows on a light saloon is £7 10s, while a roomy six-cylinder saloon produced by this firm can bo supplied with tho patent glass all round for £ls.

Dipping headlamp reflectors operated pneumatically, aro fitted as standard equipment to tho 1929 models of a lowpriced British car which will be se,m in Auckland within a few weeks. This car was formerly fitted with mechanicallydipped headlamps operated by a lever.

Special tyres had to be built for the world'? largest aeroplane, tho Beardmore Inflexible. The tremendous stresses of landing presented problems which could not bo settled by ordinary methods and special wheels with a bi caking load of ovor 48 tons were built. Tho tyres are seven and a-half feet in diameter and 16in. in cross section. Beside them the largest omnibus giant pneumatics are dwarfed.

DRIVING AGE IN TRANCE. Tho French Minister of Public Works has submitted for tho signature of the president a decree making tho regulations for motorists in Franco far moro strict. By this decree, no driving licence will be issued to persons under 18 years of ago; this limit is reduced to 16 for motor-cycles. It is, however, jidded that thero is no need, for a license to drive an agricultural machine. If a motopist is found guilty of having taken flight after an accident or of having been intoxicated, the licence will bo automatically cancelled. The driver will, however, he given a chance of presenting his defence before a special commission of experts. PETROL SUBSTITUTES. The Royal Automobile Club' of Great Britain announces that the technical committee will organise next spring trials of vehicles using fuels other than thoso coming under the common name of " petrol" (including benzole). -There will bo classes for vehicles using fuels of tho crude-oil class, the paraffin class, and also for vehicles running on self-produced gas. If there is sufficient support a class will probably bo introduced for solid fuels, such as coal dust. Entries will bo accepted, irrespective of nationality, and the fact that the trials will not be held before next spring should give plenty of time for all inventors and firms interested in tho subject to make the necessary preparations. BRITISH CAR OWNERS. , In the presonco of tho Secretary of State for tho Colonies a British car was recently rolled over a steep bank to demonstrate its rugged strength and suitability for overseas conditions. Somo English motorists were shocked at this hint at what may await tho British car in tho colonics. " Motor Transport" claims to have received the following communication from a corner of the Empire:— " I write to confirm everything nasty that has beon said by other correspondents about tho total unsuitability of most British vehicles for tho colonial markets. The first machine which was sent out to mo was tested by being left standing on a level crossing to await the arrival of an express train. Tho effects of the trifling impact with tho locomotive were such that it has never worked so well since, and tho local representative positively declines to accept responsibility for its repair free of charge. This is an instance of tho lack of service given by British manufacturers.

, " Despite this disappointing experience, I again experimented, for purely patriotic reasons, with a British machine. This I tested by having it driven through the ston.o parapet of a bridge, from which it fell into tho river 300 ft. below. Despite the fact that tho manufacturers assured me that the carburetter was fitted with nn excellent float, tho wretched thing sank like a stone.

"In view of these experiences, you will not bo surprised to hear that I am obliged to allow commercial considerations to overweigh niv patriotism and to purchase from foreign sources."