A RADIUS ROUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 14 (Supplement)

A RADIUS ROUTE.

. WEEK-END PLEASURE 7

Mnnv week-end motorists who wish to get/ away from the more concentrated atmosphere of the town and yet not make the journey too long, find it very pleasant out at Mangere Aerodrome on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Tho continuous drone'of the aeroplanes already up in the air, and the endless number of landings and takings-off keep one sufficiently oc■cupied to make the time pass quickly. Should the afternoon prove too hot to sit inside the car, one lias the opportunity of (a) flying, which does not cost very (b) swimming, which does not cost anything at all. There is plenty of beach room in the Manukau Harbour, although one? is advised to make sure that the tide is sufficiently high beforehand; the water is I very shy at low-tide and can only be seen from the air. From Auckland the aerodrome is just fifteen miles, with a tarmac road leading one to within i>ight, across a few padidocks, of the hanger. At this point the good surface road suddenly ceases, iind potholes, grooves, ruts and bumps make the unfortunate occupants of the car resolve to do the return trip >by air. The route is well signposted all the way. One follows the Manukau Boad through Onehunga, over the bridge and straight on until the Mangere Post Office appears. A signpost on the right hand directs one to turn sharply down Westney Road, which is /followed until the Manukau Beach Estate is reached—and there is the aerodrome or the water according to one's ' taste. The Council responsible for the upkeep of the last section of the road lias obviously been neglecting its duties, and before long that stretch will be in such a pitiable condition that some cars will be breaking spring leafs if they travel too fast They will get annoyed and the milk lorries will once more have the road to themselves. It is to be' hoped that before long the authorities .will do something about it. , IS THIS THE SOLUTION?

Tho car must have become " alive " from the charging circuit and, tho garage tank being " earthed," a spark would occur 011 contact with the metal nozzle with the car tank, hence ignition. The charging was evidently from the mains, one/ polo of which would probably be earthed. The rear lamp lighting could be Explained by faulty wiring allowing the earthed current to pass through it. The battery was probably being charged in position on the car. There would be no' actual explosion- unless there was plenty of air in the car tank to form an explosive mixture. NAPIER LION ENGINES. The racing motor-boat which Miss Carters is building at Cowes to compete for the Harmsworth International Trophy in America next September will, be a 28ft. hydroplane, with two supercharged Schneider Trophy-type Napier engines, each developing over 1000 h.p. the Motor Boat says that this persevering EDOrtswoman will be competing _ in the race for the third year in succession, and that she will also take to the U.S.A. " Estelle 1V.." her 1929 challenger. Miss Carstairs* craft are due to ran trials on Lake Ontario in Canada in June. Major ~ Sir Henry Segrave is also having a boat built- at Cowes for the race, and the construction of this is now well under "way. / . TRADE ITEMS. ■ //■ In,,the brake mechanism of the Cadillac and'La Salle, friction losses are minimised by roller bearings. Mr. Linwood A. Miller, president of the Willys Overland Company, estimates that during 1930 America will produce 1,000,000 fewer cars than in 19129.' The most recent addition to the Morris range of cars is . the Morris Oxford " six," the first model of which arrived in Auckland during the week. The particular model landed is a fabric saloon, and is of a most_ attractive appearance. The engine is of 15 h.p. (R.A.C. rating), with side valves, the six being cast en bloc. Coil ignition is fitted, while the four-wheel brakes are of the latest Lockheed hydraulic type. There is a three-speed with a cork-faced clutch running in oil, and a spiral bevel final drive. A maximum speed of about 65-70 m.p.h. is claimed for the car, while fuel consumption is stated to be low. A New Zealand visitor spent some time in the Ford factory. He writes:— " The Canadian Ford plant, like the factory in Detroit, is a model in efficiency. For organisation, management, and equipment the works stand out as a v/onderfuF example of efficiency.. Here mass production hap been brought to the highest point of perfection, and not at the expense of the workers either. •- The day I visited the Highland Park; plant at Detroit there were 106,000 men on the pay-roll, and the output was 9300 carsI saw the men changing shift, and they marched in fours like a battalion. Thousands of cars were parked around the plant in which the workmen came to and fro.