NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 12 (Supplement)

NOTES.

As « result. of an amusing mis-print, an English newspaper referred to the recent k!4-hours' race Le Man a as Grand Prix D'lnsurance. It ii> understood that a London firm has obtained "the contract for the construction of 250 miles of roads in various parts of Rumania, at a cost of more than £2,000,000. New Zealand has 64,559 miles of road, including city streets. Of the total, 6651 miles are Main Highways, 3753 are secondary highways, and 3735 are borough and city streets. <S. "Among European countries, France has the best network of roads for motor-car travel, with a total of 628,000 kilometers, Germany is next with 348,700 kilometers, while Great Britain, with a total of 287,600, ranks third. Practically all the automobiles in Hungary are to be found in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Budapest has 6076 of the 6672 private cars, 1257 of tho 1724 cars for hire, 307 of the 587 buses, and 2268 of the 4380 trucks. A motorist who visited Thames during the week reports that while the road surface between Thames and Paeroa is reasonably comfortable for the heavier cars, very rough and pot-holed conditions prevail from Paeroa to Te Aroha. With motor traffic on the highways of Quebec rapidly increasing, the horse-drawn vehicle has become a problem for legislative action. A general law making it comfiulsoiry for horse-drawn vehicles to carry ights at night to warn motor travellers, is being discussed. An A.A.A. patrol who is carrying out a service tour of the North Auckland districts is meeting with enthusiastic support from Northern motorists, who. are keenly appreciative of the work of the association. Last week ho enrolled 38 members and for the present week added another 42 motorists to tho roll.

A.A.A. AFFAIRS. SIGNALS ON BUSES. A curious position has arisen in connection with a complaint from an A.A.A. official that the automatic signalling devices. on motor-buses were placed so high that they could not bo easily distinguished. A report to this effect was received from the touring manager at a recent meeting of the council of the association, and it was decided to communicate with the Auckland Motor Omribus Proprietors' Association on tho matter. Daring the week, a reply was received from the secretary of the Omnibus Proprietors' Association, Mr. G. Grey Campbell, pointing out that the signals were fixed according to the Public Works Regulations, which specified that they must not bo less than 6ft. 6in. from the ground, ancl must not project more than 4ft. 9in. " Wo have previously pointed out to the Department that tho height is extreme, but their answer has been that the regulation is made to prevent the positibiSty of a signal striking a pedestrian," the letter continued. " Each hand signal is connected with the stop signal at the rear of the bus, and tho stop signal works immediately tho hand signal is operated." Mr. Campbell suggested that the A.A.A. should take up the matter with the inspecting engineer of the Works Department, as bus operators had no objection to the signals being placed lower down. The matter will probably be further discussed at a future meeting of the council of tho A.A.A.

HEADLIGHT TESTING. Patrols of the Auckland Automobile Association will adjust motor headlights at Northcote at the garage oi the Waitemata Bus Company next Wednesday, August 27, and Thursday, August 28, between the hours of 7 and 9 p.m. This service will be extended to members of the A.A.A. without charge, while non-mem-bers will be privileged to have their lights set to comply with the' regulation at the nominal fee of Is. Headlight testing will be carried out by A.A.A. patrols during next week at: —» Te Aroha, Monday, August 25. Whangarei, Tuesday, August 26, Te Awamutu, Wednesday, August 27. Ngaruawhia, /Thursday, August 28. Warkworth, Friday, August 29. BRITISH .SPEEDWAY. The proposed speedway along the shores of the Wash, about which much has been heard of late, would appear to be progressing beyond mere plans aod discussion. The latest news in this direction is to the effect that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury are prepared, provisionally, to make a grant of the tidal lands. The grant is a sale or purchase at a price which, it is understood, is considered to be agreeable to the Automobile Racing Association, the concern promoting the venture. ' Should this offer be accepted by. the association, it is possible that work will commence in the near future, providing employment for some 3000 men for close on two years. It will be remembered that the scheme provides for a straight concrete track, some 15 miles long and 200 yards wide, along the north shores of the Wash, while the plans also include a waterway for motor-boat trials and a track which will contain replicas of the most* famous racing circuit bends and corners in the world. It is estimated that the scheme will cost £300,000.