ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 526, 23 August 1900, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

I BY

Cyclob.

CYCLE ROAD LEAGUE. A meeting of the newly-formed Cycle Road League was held on Thursday evening last, in the Y M.C.A. Hall, Mr S. Thorne-George presided, and there was a fair attendance. The rules of the League, as drafted by a sub-committee, were read and approved, the annual subscription to the League being fixed at ss, with an entrance fee of is Mr Pond read the report of the roads sub-commit-tee, which stated that arrangements had been made, through the courtesy of the Rpmuera Highway Board, for improving a poition of the Remuera Road for a distance of three miles, by laying down scoria and rolling it. Mr Pond said they had been agreeably surprised at the cordial manner in which they had been received by the gentlemen to whom they had spoken. The Remuera Board had placed at their disposal the amount of scoria they for the experiment. They (the committee) intended to do their utmost to improve the roads in a way which should commend itself to everyone. The Remuera Road experiment would give a very interesting object-lesson in road-making, and if successful, the surface would be hard enough to bear other vehicular traffic, as well as cycles. He thought there would be very little dif-

ficulty in getting not merely three, but a great many miles of road prepared for cyclists in the coming summer. The funds for the Remuera experiment had been supplied by the sub committee and a few friends. He hoped every one of the 4000 cyclists of Auckland would support the League. If they did, there should be no difficulty in getting good roads for twenty miles round Auckland. (Applause). The idea was to obtain a roller and place it at the disposal of the Road Boards to c-rry out the making of the roads according to the latest methods. He moved the adoption of the report. lu reply to Mr Parr, Mr Pond said the three miles of road now being prepared would cost from £ls to £2O, of which more than half had already been subscribed. Dr Haines, in seconding the motion, said the sub-committee were preparing a pamphlet dealing with the latest and best methods of road-making. This suggestion had bee* received by the Road Boards in a very appreciative spirit. The report was adopted. On the motion of Mr Shackelford a vote of thanks was 5 accorded to the. Remuera Road Board for the manner in which they had co-operated with the subcommittee. Mr P. A. Vaile then moved : “ That this meeting approve of the principle of taxing cycles and cyclists in order to raise funds for the purpose of making and maintaining cycle paths or improved roads in accordance with the principles embodied in the proposed District Cycle Hoards Bill.” The mover said the Bill had received the approval of some of the leading legal men in the city. Mr Bockhaert seconded. Dr Haines opposed the motion, contending that the- Bill as drafted by Mr Vaile was unworkable. Moreover, they were taxed enough already with cuatoms dues, cycle registration fee, municipal rates, and the Cycle League subscription, and he did not see the necessity for a fifth tax. Mr Parr also opposed the Bill, stating that it would not help them one bit. It put the taxation screw on drew 5s from each of them, and left them j ust where they were already. There was no provision in the Bill to compel local bodies to give cyclists a portion of the roadway for their special use, or to frame bye-laws to prevent other vehicles using that portion. The Bill seemed to him quite unworkable. He thought they should send it back to the committee. The secretary (Mr A. A. Davis) read the following legal opinion of the Bill, given by Mr Theo Cooper : “I have not approved of the Bill. I think that in its present form it is useless to expect the Legislature to pass it. I mention this, as an impression is abroad that I approve of the Bill.” Mr F. Earle wrote : “ I beg to inform you that, as a member of the legal committee, I have perused the Bill, and to say that in my opinion there is no possibility of a Bill on the lines Mr Vaile’s obtaining the sanction of Parliament. I consider it far better to proceed as Messrs Pond and Haines have done, and not try to obtain legislature at present.” After further discussion it was resolved un the motion of Mr Peacock, to refer the Bill back to the committee. Mr Peacock moved, and it was carried : “ That a special mewling be called for the purpose ot making such alterations in the list of officers as is necessitated by the rules now adopted.” A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the business. The world’s hour record has been inincreased 4 miles 45 yards during the putt eighteen months. This increase is due to the great speed attained by motorpacing Jimmy Mitchell is once again lowering records on the cycle track. He says that cycling pays better than jockeying. He made his first reappearance on the Atlanta track, New Jersey, on June 18th,

and in a paced five mile exhibition he gave proof that his legs have not lost their p wer. Following a motor tandem, he broke the state records for two, three, and five miles, doing the latter distance in Bmin 57 2-ssec. Major Taylor, the negro crack, has paid his 500 dollar fine, and rode an exhibition mile in slow time at the same meeting.

At the League of Wheelmens’ North Canterbury Centre meeting, held last week, it was decided to write to the Auckland Cy cl ePaths Association expressing satisfaction at the progiess the Northern body was making, and intimating the League’s intention to endeavour to secure the support of the Canterbury members of Parliament for the Cycle Paths Bill that will be brought before Parliament shortly. From Paris comes an account of a novel race on the Parc de Prince cement track, the like of which has never been run before. It was one that amused an enormous crowd to the extent of side bursting laughter. It was a. mixed race in which cyclists, motor cyclists, pedestrians, roller skaters, and donkeys competed, ehch class having a trial heat, of which the winner took part in the handicapped final. The latter was a 175 yards dash, with the cyclist and motor cyclist on scratch, the pedestrian at 19 yards, the roller skater at 45 yards, and the donkey at 100 yards. The motor was lost in the shuffle. The cyclist and the donkey had a nose and ear finish, the former winning, with the roller skater third, and the pedestrian fourth. Here’s an amusing contest that might be tried by some of our enterprising sport pro moters who are seeking novel attractions.