NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 10 (Supplement)

NOTES.

There arc 2,000,000 acres of land in tlio United States alone producing oil at tlio present time.

At the beginning of March petrol prices advanced from Is 4*d to Is 7d in London. This includes a 4d petrol tax.

During the first two months ol this year, 5*858,092 gallons of motor spirit wero imported into New Zealand.

Imports of mineral lubricating oil into ihe Dominion during the first two months of this year totalled 432,506 gallons.

Nearly 1000 garages and tyre retailers have accepted a tyre policy evolved by the New Zealand Motor Trade Association for the stabilisation of prices.

J'he Automobile Association of Great Britain has over 385,000 members and its staff exceeds 1000. There aro 400 telephone installations on the main roads of Great Britain, and every member has a kev.

When adjusting brakes, an easy and certain method of ascertaining if the drums aro free is to tap tliem gently with a spanner. They will ring with a bell-like note if the shoes are not touching them.

Excluding commercial vehicles, 2380 cars were exported last January from the United Kingdom, while in .January of 1928 the number was 1534 and 1543 in January, 1927.

Motor tyres and tubes valued _ at £216,654 were imported into New Zealand during the first two months of this year. Canada's supplies were valued at £134.216, while £60.017 of the amount was in respect, to ISritisii tyres.

When the time arrives to drain used oil from the engine, gear box, or back axle and put in a fresh supply, choose the moment when the car comes in from a run to drain out the old oil. It will then be warm and will flow more readily.

A German firm has introduced a sixwheel private car chassis for colonial use. All six wheels are power driven arid traction is thus possible under the roughest conditions. The car has a maximum speed of 43 m.p.h. and it can climb grades of 1 in 2.

Keeper (speaking of new arrival at asylum): "What's the matter with this fellow?" Superintendent: "lie says the air is free and goes around releasing it from people's automobile tyres.

Members of the New Zealand Motor Trade Association recently conferred with representatives of the South Island on the question of providing cheaper petrol. The result was that the South Island automobile associations were recommended to import case petrol and distribute it through motor trade channels.

Motorists in England will be putting their .cold weather equipment away this month With an eye open for cracked watei jackets the British motorist must take various precautions during th« winter. During the season just past small safety lamps 'or use under the bonnet have become very popular. Radiator muffs have also had a large sale, and the majority ot drivers use radiator solutions ot one part of glycerine in four parts of water. This solution lowers the treezing point by 18deg. tahrenheit. Whera this course is not taken it is customary to dram the radiator when the car is garaged for the night. STREET DANGERS.

The Auckland Automobile Association lias been concerned for some time with the risks run by school children in the streets. A few weeks ago the association had before it illustrated books which are used in some American schools for presenting tnillic problems and dangers in a nianne? interesting to pupils. The association has ascertained that distribution of similar books in the Auckland district would run into three figures, and the sum is rather large for the body to find. A Government subsidy scheme lias been suggested, and the Minister of Education lias informed the association that he is considering the proposal.

ORAKEI-KORAKO ROUTE. The annual review of the New Zealand Toniist League makes the following reference to Orakei-Korako, the little known thermal region reached from the turn-off on the Rotorua-Taupo road near Atiamuri:—

" The track has been considerably neglected and if a connection was made from the Atiamuri end of the Rotorua road, it would enable more tourists to see the wonders of this spot without doubling back on their tracks. Our appeal for a grant met with no response for the present. We should like to take this opportunity of emphasising the point that in view of the substantial contributions now being made by motorists to the highways fund they are entitled to claim that some of the money should be spent, on what might be termed tourist roads only as compared with a road opened for settlers, because most owners of private cars use them for pleasure only In this category would come this par ticular road, the road to Waikaremonna and others around Rotorua and ebe where."