MOTORING NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13013, 28 June 1906, Page 3

MOTORING NOTES.

The Automobile Club of "Victoria, following on/ the lines of the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland, has decided to permit of the motor "trade being, i allowed to take office. Experience * has proved the world-over that the best means to keep automobile associations in a pro; gressive and live state is most interested and best qualified some say in tie governing and'fostering of motoring. The Danlop Rubber Company this year hold their reliability motor contest over a IJXX) miles of the best test, roads in Victoria. The event will probably be a ..nonstop contest from-.start to finish;' \sifh observers up. A few-minutes are allowed at the start of each day's run for 1 adjustments and oiling, but no. further handling will -be permitted, even whea route is covered in less than schedule time. This is a condition that prom-ises to effectually determine the reliability of. the con--4esting,,cars., : .Orong-.tp-.tbe to be covered on four of tie daily routes, the sion for /a compulsory stop of 30 minutes in. each day for lunch, and this arrange- 1 Ment should afford a welcome break on the long runs- Owing, to the contest being this year conducted on v .good roads, a very large ißptry .Jig,-anticipated, and already many prominent." motorists ore making arrangements-fp'take part in -the big ; event vneit November, the. proba"ble dates being from the 12th to 19th. inclueire: '

ITie English railway companies are '.ii<jir~ having to face an almost unconscious, but exceedingly sharp, competition, in the form of motor cais, in the conveyance of the ■ricLv and it .seems as if the longdistance first-class most remunerative to the railway company—will pass away. For the past half-year the Great Kastern Railway alone carried 37,255 fewer first-class passengers than in the preyiqu,- corresponding period; and as this falling-off. in number-was most 'noticeable' in fetation ..to many■'. persons traVeHed". by {rasp* went- motor cai?s.;. A*; the: haif : yearly meeting, of. tbTe. company «aid—" Motor , car competition, I: am afraid, is. likely

in-the future to assume very serious proportions."

A new motor-car, w&ich has been buili for Mr 6. W. Perkins, the American millionaire, has a drawing room and. a be 4 loom. The former is furnished elegantly, and has revolving chairs fastened to the. floor. The bedroom has a couch for read ing purposes. There is a megaphone over the head of the chauffeur connected with speaking tubes to various portions of tb« car, so that commands may be passed without moving. Electric -theaters warm the apartments throughout, and at the back there is a dainty little cooking kitchen. There is a roll-top desk in the passage way, and. Mr Perkins uses this on his journeys for his correspondence. The car' cost £SOOO.