MOTORING NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue III, 18 July 1903, Page 168

MOTORING NOTES.

On Saturday, July 11th, there was a run of the Automobiles’ Association to Panmure. The meet took place at St. Owen’s, Princes - street, and in all 11 cars turned out Some little amusement was caused by Mr Spinks appearing seated upon the “innards” of an “Oldsmobile,” without any sign of bonnet at all. The machinery he had eoated with aluminium paint, and in the distance this lent the car the appearance of having been made of burnished steel. I, for one, did not envy him his seat, perched as he was upon a mere narrow ledge of hard wood. However, in these days we are nothing if not original. Nothing of any moment took place on the run, and tea was served at the Panmure Hotel.

The following is a list of the different motors and their occupants: Dr. and Mrs Rayner, Dr. and Mrs Owen, Mr and Mrs R. Whitson, Mr A. Cleave and chauffeur, Mr W. T. D. Bell and chauffeur, Mr J. Moody and Mrs Moody, Dr. and Mrs de Clive Lowe, Dr. Knight and visitor, Dr. Purchas, Mr. W. Bloomfield, visitor and chauffeur, Mr G. Henning and three visitors, and lastly Mr R. B. Spinks upon his “suider ear.”

The roads in Auckland are a crying disgrace to the city and suburbs. Why. do the various road boards permit such a state of matters? I am not talking now about motor traffic, but traffic in general. In some places the condition of these roads (?) is enough to break up the springs of any trap. Yet, day m and day out, week in, week out, there they remain. Perhaps it would do some good if the A.A.A. were to have a “City Fathers’ Day” and invite all our councillors to take a trip into the country. Then, when the state of things is really and forcibly brought home to them, perhaps we may be blessed with better highways.

The membership of the association is daily increasing. Three new names were put up last week for election. When many more of the more powerful cars come into the association the committee will have to arrange that the smaller ears start some time before the larger ones, because the higher power cars cannot be “held in” to keep pace with such ears as the “Locomobile” or “Oldsmobile” without an immense amount of vibration, noise, and real discomfort to the occupants of, say, such a motor as a 12 h.p. “Darrueq.” However, time will tell.

I am glad to see that Mr A. Cleave has purchased a car. Congratulations, Mr Cleave.

I am also told that Dr. Pabst has purchased a “Locomobile.” He will find it a great help in his work. Last Saturday Dr. A. C. Purchas ran from Mount Eden to Gladstone-road, Parnell, on urgent professional business, in four minutes! This shows how’ great an amount of time may be saved on the road.

I hope soon to see four more large power cars on' the road, and no doubt soon there will be motor broughams and ’buses flying over our roads. Australia’s motto, “Advance, Australia!” will soon be rivalled if Auckland goes on at this rate.