CYCLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11923, 22 December 1900, Page 8

CYCLING

(Br Demon, in* the Otago Witness.)

The wind has been all against, cycling for several days, and (hough riders did plug through it at times, they only became hot and bad-tempered. The weather as I write is just perfect, and I trust it may continue so. as in view of the near approach of the Christinas and New Year holidays, tours are being arranged and pleasant days looked for. -—The Strath-Tnicri Caledonian .Society hold a sports meeting at Middleman^ on Ist January next. Five bicycle races are pro-videcl-vi/.., .One Mile Open Handicap, tor boys of under 16; One Mile Scratch We; Two Mile Handicap; Three Mile Otago Leuivnl Handicap; and One -Mile Consolation Handicap. Kn tries for the Three Mile Handicap close with the secretary, Mr R. Walter, on 21st inst. Tosl entries for tne other events. A special train leaves Duiiedm lor Middle-march at 8 o'clock, returning at 6.20 o'ploc]

The origlii.il intention of tendering a complimentary cycle meeting to '.hick Green, Hie crack English cyclist, whoso arm was broken at the East Melbourne Clubs meeting, has given place to a determination to lake up subscriptions on his behiilf. « "'< a view to carrying the project through successfully, a strong executive committee has been formed to take the matter in hand and latest advices state that- already over iiib Had been subscribed towards this worthy cause -—An innovntion was tried by the Melbourne Bicycle Club this year in connection with the running of the Austral Wheel Race heats. For the lust two years only the first man in each heat and two or three of the fastest second* Ikivo qualified for the final, whereas this year's events were run on totally different line's. Ten heats were run, and the first second, and third men taken, hut only the first man qualified for the final. The 10 second men met in a separate heat, the first, second, and third men starting in the final. A third heal consisted of the remainin" 10 third men, the first and second of winch also qualified, matins a total of 15 riders m the find. ' , , ~ triangular match was recently held in Paris- between the three fastest cyclist! on the Continent-viz.. .Tacquelin (France), Cooper (U.S.A.), and Meyers (Holland). .1 lie contest consisted of throe mile heals, and resulted in the French flyer, .lacquelin, winning all three events, Cooper finishing second on each occasion. Thi.' performance clearh stamps the French crack as the fastest sprint riiler of the rear.

According to Knglish files to hand. Lord Brassey, late Governor of Victoria, is the latest member of the English aristocracy to purchase a motor cur. He has bought a Do "Dion Voiturctle. and when the mail left whs being initiated into the mysteries of minipiilatins the car. The attendance at the first day of the Austral meeting was first class, especially for a first (lay, when a moderate gate only is looked forl Last year's record was considered very satisfactory, but this year's figures eclipse those of 1893. The day's takings totalled £510 16a 6d, as against £408 3s 6:1 for the tame day of last year's meeting, leaving a balance of £102 13s in favour of 1900.

The world's hour record has been cutby an American. -W. Stinson has succeeded

in covering 39 miles 1456 yards in 60min. Ths previous record was held by Bauge (France),

with J miles 1111 yards to his credit. Stinson also recently covered 25 miles in 37minl 52see.

— A long discussion has taken place in

the Southampton Town Council, England, on. a proposal to introduce autocars in place of the horse-driven,omnibuses at present running under the control of the corporation in that town. The report of the committee which made, tlfo recommendation contained a comparison between the system of the horse-drawn omnibuses and the probable result of running the proposed 'autocars. The comparison took account of financial results on the present volume of traffic, and left out of the question the almost certain increapccl comfort of pas-sengei-3. The figures which were given are very interesting. Cost of five omnibuses at £675 each, £3375, upon which an annual charge of 20 per cent, may be made to cover depreciation, £675: fuel and lubricants at 16s per day for 310 working days, £248; wages for 10 drivers at £70 per annum, wages for 10 boy conductors at 10s per week, £960; insurance against "third party," employers' liability, and fire risks, £100; upkeep, including rubber tyres, snare parts and repairs, £300; total, £3275, which, compared with the return of six omnibuses for the year ended March 31 last, worked out as follows: —Ascertained loss upon the working of six omnibuses per annum, £297; earnings, £3447; expenses £3744, to which must be added depreciation

of the value of 50 horses at £30, £1500; six 'buses at £140, £810; eight sets of harness, £96; total, £2136, at say, £20 per cent., £4£7 4s; showing an annual loss of £784 4s. The committee recommended the council to purchase motor omnibuses.

It is a peculiar fact that whilst the trees yielding indiarubber are well distributed over the tropical parts of the world, the tree. ! which furnishes guttapcrcha only flourishes in the Malay Archipelago. • It is generally supposed that 'the most expensive motor car yet made is that possessed

by M. Gharron. Last year this daring Frenchman drove his ear from Paris to Bordeaux, a distance of 375 miles, at the rate of over 3D miles an hour, and has since refused —so rumour has it—an offer of £2000 for the ma-

chine. Tlio cars possessed by the Earl of Carnarvon, the Hon. C. S. Rolls, and Mr Harry J. Lawson swallowed up small fortunes in their construction.