THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18324, 15 August 1921, Page 2

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By Accelerator. [ltems of news—short descriptions of tours, the state of roads, etc., —comment, or inquiries will he welcomed by " Accelerator.”] TEN CARS A MINUTE. Ford's uuiy soimuu.e: cur ror every six and a-liuif seconds; bud oars an hour; every working any 4cba i'ord curs are completed. Una is a record lor tlie i'ord metory, ana tlie demand is reported to bo greater tuan tlie suppiy. ihe aim lor Juiy was RaJ.IaKJ, but even tins enormous number will be exceeded. Henry rord has onnounced tliut tne homes lor employees have been reduced bOiXJ to Bdl/0 dollars below market value for property in tliat section. Uniy 10 |ier cent, ol purenase money down mid about, £lu u monui to pay ou principal and interest. IN OLD JAPAN. The rule oi the road m tlie Land of the Rising bun reserves used into itnglisli m tins lorm : At tlie rise of the hand of policeman, stop rapidly. Do not pass by or otherwise' disrespect mm. Uiien a passenger on foot hove in sight, tootle the horn trumpet to him, melodiously at nrst; it no still obstacles your passage, louiT mm wuii vigour, and express by word ot Uio mouth ttio warning, "Hi, Hi.” Beware ot the wandering horse, that he shall not take Light as you pass him. Go soothingly by, or stop by the roadside till him puss away. Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurk the skid demon. Press tne brake ot the foot as you roll around the corner to save the collapse and tip-up. UNBLINDED METAL. I have recently listened to severe condemnation ot the practice of leaving unblinded metal on city streets, buch complaints are in no way surprising, lor the wear and tear on tyres, combined with the discomtort of riding over sucu mahormations, is a very considerable item. From the point of view ot the citizens this method of road-making is wastelm because it is primitive. On the lulls especially the system is unsatisfactory as the loose metal is displaced by traffic and the tyro strain is considerable. The grievance was ventilated at lust week’s meeting of the Otago Motor Club, and as the case for reform in this matter is so fair and reasonable it is expected that the city engineer will give it his immediate attention. DAZZLING HEADLIGHTS. A difference of opinion on dazzling headlights was expressed at the recent motor conference in Christchurch. On arrival at the meeting an Otago delegate spoke very strongly on the subject ot motorists driving with strong headlights and not dimming when meeting other traffic. Ho stated that whilst coming into Christchurch that evening dozens of motor cars were mot and very few taken the trouble to dim their lights, and he roundly denounced such thoughtlessness. The Cathedral city delegates in reply stated that they considered that there was more danger in using their dimmers than in driving with bright lights. “Perhaps so,” comments a local motorist, “but what about the other fellow?” ROAD NOTES. Motorists who have occasion to use the Merton-Karita.no road will be interested to know that a contract has been let for the necessary improvements on that part of the road affected by the tide. The Motor Club is contributing £IOO towards the work. The Moranan road is in excellent condition at present -,.nd motorists travelling to Christchurch are ..dvised to use that rgad in preference to the Hinds road, but a careful look out must bo kept for bridges over the water-races. One bridge has the appearance of being wide enough to take a car, but is really only an enlargement of a footbridge, and might easily deceive a driver. The particular crossing is on the south end of the road. CONFERENCE ECHOES. In conversation with Mr A. E. Ansell. proffdent of the Otago Motor Club. I gather that the Canterbury Automobile Club rooms were much admired and envied by visiting delegates, the Pioneer Club rooms also claiming a large share of attention and admiration. Mr Anse’l savs that the many kindnesses shown by the secretary (Mr Harman) were mucli appreciated. The presidept of the South Island Union, when speak : ng to the delegates at the combined conference of county councils and motor associations, suggested that representatives from motor organisations should he invited to the counties’ conference to be held In 'Wellington, when tlm Main Roads Bill is brought down. The suggestion has much to recommend it, as both parlies have much in common- in calling for reform in reading matters. TEN FOR MOTORISTS. For the self-respecting motorist there are many commandments which he should keep, but the following ton he must obey:—Thou shalt not run over and kill they neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s automobile or any part thereof. Thou shalt give thv neighbour one-half of the road at all times. Thou shalt always drive in a careful and prudent manner, that thy neighbour may extol -thee. Thou shalt permit thy neighbour to pass thee on the highway when he is in a hurry. Thou shalt love thy neighbour’s dog, his ox, his servant and his automobile, and avoid injury to them. Thou shalt approach a railroad crossing with fear and trembling when thy neighbour ridetb with thee. Thou shalt not blind they neighbour with glaring headlights whilst approaching him from an onposite direction. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thv neighbour in case of an accident. Thou shalt always remember that there are others entitled as th-splf to the use of the highways. AN AUSTRALIAN MOTOR TRIAL. To-day a touring contest will start from Brisbane when over 100 cars of different makes will compete. The test will last for about 10 days or more, and the run will bo through three States. To start off, each car or competitor will be credited with 700 points, representing 500 for reliability, 50 each lor tue two hill climbs, and 100 for benzine consumption. Points will be awarded as follow: Cur showing best results on formula, or hill climbs, 50 points. No mechanical adjustments will be allowed during running time. The penalty for overtime is 1 point loss per minute, roadside repairs 2 points per minute, spring breakages 1 point per leaf (allowance of 30 minutes will be made for a broken spring—no more than two of the occupants of the car will be allowed to do the repairs—after a 30minutos’ stop the engine must be started, or compelled to withdraw from the contest.) Breakages of the steering connections 100 points, bent axlc a 25 points, broken rear axles 50 points each, broken front axle 100 points. Disablement of any one of the gears 50 points, a broken frame 100 points, members 25 points, broken torque 25 points. Faulty brakes at the conclusion of contest 25 points, adding water during day’s run 10 points, and replenishing benzine tank during running time 1 point a minute. HALT! During the few hours while Matthews was at liberty motorists on tlie Main North road were held up by the police at certain points. A correspondent tells of another “hold up” when the quarry was not so keenly lollowod as in tlie case of the T'imaru murderer. “A party of motorists bound for the recent motor conference at Christchurch,” writes my correspondent, “were ‘held up’ on the Waitaki bridge. As the ’car approached the northern side an official stepped smartly out and closed the gate, thus barring the exit. When the car pulled up two men wore already standing in front of the vehicle, apparently having come from nowhere. The occupants of the car were thinking very hard and making all sorts of mental guesses at the reason for their predicament. Their anxiety and curiosity were quickly dispelled when the voice of the law asked if any passengers had been picked up since leaving (Jamam. tlie second member of the force meanwhile making a close scrutiny of the car and its occupants. It was then explainer! that the two escapees from Oamarii gaol were supposed to bo somewhere in the vicinity. The driver of the car, who possesses a welldefined faculty of observation, was able to give silt'll exact details of the two ’wanted’ men that their arrest was only a matter of an hour or so.” ROAD ECONOMICS. Mr L. Sandston, civil engineer, lectured recently in Christchurch on “Rond Economies.” After emphasising the importance of good roads Mr Sandston said that especially in a country like New Zealand was the road question important, for with Indifferent roads and bad transport facilities

the country was penalised, and the migratory movement to tne towns encouraged, it was important that in me adoption ot any road policy advantage should uo taken of the experience and experiments of other countries, in oruur mat an up-to date start might bo made. A railway was a cosily type of roadway. The railway method iiad been developed to us economic limits, and the present era of transportation was one of improved roadways. In America, during | the past 10 years, the expenditure on highways hud increased from lb millions to keiu millions annually, while the actual mileage had increased less than b per cent. Water-bound macadam roads, up to the advent of mechanical transport, satisfied all requirements, but motor transport had brought about a vast change, and soil tyre and rapid traffic ruined a water-bound macadam road and made its cost of maintenance prohibitive, in I\ew Zealand, as in Australasia generally, there was a wide divergence ot expert opinions as to what was the solution of the problem. That pointed to the fact that road building at the present time was in a transitional stage, and sufficient time had not yet elapsed to prove the claims of the advocates oi different methods of construction. There was no such thing as one best road; each roadway had to bo considered according to its own conditions. His experience was that a concrete road was never ideal, although the American standard road was one possessing a concrete loundalion with a special surface, itoud construction was now a specialist! oejiartuieiil ot civil engineering, but the practice in Aow Zealand was lor a local body to expect an engineer to take charge of all departments of worn, when, as a matter oi lad, a specialist shomd be called m. The lecturer oxplained tne system of asphalt (not tar) surtuce construction, and exhibited pictures snowing the use ot tins type ot construction in the States.

The city engineer of Auckland (Mr W. B. Bush) recently reported on tne concrete roads already constructed by the council, in nis report, Mr Rush itemised the various roods which have boon concreted in Uic city area, and stated that tne total concrete laid to date is 100,457 square yards, a length of nearly live miles, The results had been very satisfactory. The first concrete road laid. Little Queen street, had been in use lor five and a-half years. This was coated with asphalt nine months alter its completion, and since then it had cost m maintenance £26 12s 3d lor four years and three months, or less than Jd per square yard per annum. In the case of Lower Durham street the total expenditure on maintenance since its completion in October. 1916, had been only 6a 3d. Here the concrete was unooated. The Quay street extension paving, completed in March, 1918, had cost in maintenance £23 17s 9d, all spent on repairs to the asphalt joints, and this worked out at only jid per square yard per annum. No street in Auckland carried heavier traffic than this one. Another noteworthy result obtained in connection with Auckland’s concrete roads, said Mr Bush, was the great absence of cracks which were often seen in the concrete roads of America. The better results in Auckland he attributed to the fact that from the first a thickness of concrete pavement had been put down adequate to withstand the shock of traffic, while proper care had been used in the selection of material, the securing of proper sub-grades or foundations, and in the laying and finishing of the pavement. He mentioned that Remuera road was now being paved with a thickness of 6iin of concrete, the mixture having, by past experience, been proved to give good results. Mr Bush expressed the opinion that concrete roads were excellent for Auckland conditions. SPARKS. Near the petrol locker of a Loudon garage is posted; “Don’t smoke near tills. 11 your hie isn’t worth anyth : ;ig, petrol is.” The funds available in America for road improvement are sufficient, according to the latest official report, to afford an expenditure of £500,080 for each working day. Construction is proceeding in every State at a .feverish rate. A sign of the times as expressed by a Christchurch paper:—“At this time of the year the influx of ‘ foreign ’ cars to Christchurch for the races is very great. This year is an exception, however, the percentage being very low compared with that of other years.” At the annual meeting of the American Automobile Association it was resolved to urge officially upon national and State agencies and organisations the importance ot launching a national campaign for roadside “ treatment,” by which term is implied the planting of trees, sodding, planting of slopes, removal of objectionable signs, etc The prospects before the “ Oildorado,” as some wag called the new Canadian oilfield, seems illimitable. It is reported that the summer will sec such a rush for the Mackenzie River as will make the Yukon stampede pgle into insignificance. It is estimated that there are 150,000 square miles of oil-land to be prospected, and, if hopes are realised, this territory, which is 1700 miles journey from Edmonton, may become one of the largest oilfields in the world. The Autocar is doing some campaigning in favour of better protection for the rear seats of the car. In pointing out that the problem sis not so easy of solution as at first appears, the Autocar mentions that not only must the occupants bo protected from front side, and back draughts, but that it is essential that the apparatus must not be unsightly, and that it must not interfere with free access to the seats. One of the most attractive ideas is to provide the rear seats with a scuttle and screen exactly similar to that in front. There arc certainly attractive possibilities in such a design