GENERAL NOTES.

Putaruru Press, Volume V, Issue 177, 24 March 1927, Page 7

GENERAL NOTES.

“ I have done 18,000 miles with my present set of tyres,” remarked a New Plymouth motorist a few days ag’o, “ and they’re good for a considerable distance yet.” Of course, we don’t expect roads as good as the Taranaki thoroughfares from the Highways Board, but we have a right to expect a fair and equitable expenditure of motorists’ taxes. The long and the short of the matter is that if the local bodies won’t do the work, the Highways Board should have power to do it itself. * * * * Don’t let your windshield wiper stand for long periods of time, even if there is no rain. The manufacturer advises that you run it a little every day or two to keep the mechanism at top efficiency. A few drops of oil, applied every month or so to the gear mechanism on the inside of the instrument, will also help it to perform at its best. English car builders strive for the •ist decimal point of horsepower, but ■ often neglected other considerations, says L. H. Pomeroy, formerly engineer to the Vauxhall Company. He adds that Americans buy their ears as they patronise their hotels. They see that the comfort and refinements are there and take the kitchen for granted. A woman motorist who had driven unattended from Dunedin arrived at Napier last week. She stated that she intended to continue her journey northward. She was loud in her praise of the North Island roads, so fas as she had travelled, and not only was she struck by the condition of the roads, but she was also very favourably impressed by the number of sign-posts on the roadside. She said that in this respect the North Island was far ahead of the South Island. * * * * Owing to the ambiguity in the Motor Vehicles Act, local bodies have been concerned with the legal position ) in regard to the issue of duplicate drivers’ licenses to replace those lost. The Minister of Internal Affairs has now advised the Auckland City Council that it is quite in order to issue a duplicate provided that the applicant makes a declaration regarding the loss, and that the police are advised of the loss. It is also pointed out that the duplicate must contain any endorsement which was on the original. The Minister advises local bodies that they may charge the full fee of 5s for the duplicate.