MOTORING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 437, 5 July 1915, Page 3

MOTORING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. . The secretary of the Pioneer Motor Cycling and Sports Club has recently returned from a trip north, where he interviewed the secretaries of one or two motoring' clubs in connection with the forming of a governing body or union, the objects of which were pointed out in a previous issue of Thk Sun. The secretary announced that the clubs he visited thought favourably of the proposal to form a governing body, and one or two of the clubs in the far north liad written signifying, their intention to support the scheme. Replies from other clubs are awaited, The country roads are now in a very fair condition, there being no dust and few puddles. Despite the fact that the recent drizzling rains soaked well into the roads, they have dried up remarkably well during the past few days, and during the week-end quite a number of motorists went afield. The most treacherous surfaces on the roads out of town are. those shaded by thick plantations of trees, and motorists would do well to slacken speed at such points, especially if the plantation happens to be situated on the.western .side, of the road. The rain has'•■'n'bjt made any difference to the North Road; and: it is now in as,good, a state as ever it. ~..,.f . ». •■■ ,- ._<■■■ v ..- . o-. /. ■• i •.-,'■. ~t .v - t - ■•',-. was..

Accirding to "Wheeling" there niust be sciine fast horses in" the Ashburton district. During the hearing of the cases against three Otago motorists the informants stated that the , motorist* travelled over the bridge at the rate of 35-J miles an hour, worked out by the watch over a measured distance. The-motorists swore that they rode behind some horses and traps whilst crossing the bridge. Perhaps they mix the chaff and petrol up there!

Motorists need not feel any cause for. anxiety concerning the amount of ■•petrol in New Zealand for a considerable time to come, as 167,796 cases of kerosene, benzine, motor spirits, power oil, and petrolite have arrived at Auckland.

Chatting to a well-known motor-cy-clist in the trade, a representative of The Sux ascertained that there was every likelihood of there being a famine of motor cycles in New Zealand for a considerable time to come. This applied chiefly to machines of British make. It was stated that in about six mouths' time there would not be a. new 19.15 model for sale in any part ef the Dominion, as all the present stocks were being bought with remarkable rapidity, and,-machines could not be obtained from Home. One-very well-known British firm had sent 412 of its employees to the front, and the factory was working night and day in producing 4 h.p. countershaft 'machines for the War Office. A very good example had been set by 20 of the lady typists, who worked at the factory three nights every week by doing sewing and knitting for the troops at the front. The factory had been taken over entirely by the War Office, and was also engaged in manufacturing large quantities of munitions. Another British firm was engaged in the production of arms and ammunition, while several other companies were booked for ma-t'Jiine-gun and ambulance outfits. In America the firms are not so hard pressed by the war authorities, and consequently machines have been dispatched to New Zealand. The War Ottico lias certainly made a big demand upon Ame-rican-built machines, but the Americans have had the opportunities to enlarge their factories, and consequently have been able to cope with the increased demand, as well as to keep their agents supplied. The majority of the 1915-16 American cars will be equipped with electric starting and lighting systems. England, despite tin? war, will probably follow in the same direction; in fact many cars have already been fitted. In the ■United States there is a noticeable tendency to increase the output of light cars, the majority of which are constructed on standard car lines, with Jour-cylinder nionobloc. engine and electric lighting and starting device. The left-hand gear change is much in evidence, and many body refinements have been added. One or two new firms are producing six-cylinder machines, and quite a niimber'of companies have constructed eight-cylinder cars.