ON THE WHEEL

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 693, 18 June 1903, Page 5

ON THE WHEEL

i The London correspondent of a contemporary writes : “ Many of our local cycling enthusiasts will remember the young Italian, Porta, who spent seven years in ;Australia and New Zealand as a professional cyclist. He is now living irt Piedmont, North Italy, and has recently been engaged as interpreter to some English and colonial mining engineers in that district.’j When he arrived in Australia with Bill Martin he could not speak a word of English.

Before the advent of the pneumatic tire one of the troubles that constantly worried the tourist was the breakage ot spokes. Nowadays this-occurs so rarely that the matter is never considered. It is only through accident that the wheels are damaged in this respect, when the means of repairs are most simple. In the early days, when the Spokes were screwed in the hub, there usually was trouble, owing to their being broken off short just outside the hub, the cause not infrequently being the deep cutting of the screw-thread. ’Boday the hubs are made very differently. The Hat flanges allow of being pierced, through which are passed the butt-ended spokes, the tension being effected by nipples (previously passed through the rim), screwing on to the ends.

■ Henri Contenet, of Paris, who towards the end of last season surprised the cycling public by riding the remarkable distance of 48 miles 718 yards in the hour, looks like carrying all before him in middle distance contests this year. His record so far is an exceedingly good one, having met and defeated such well-known pactM specialist’s as J. Nelson, J. Michael, E. Bouhours, T. Linton, T. Hall, J. Gqugoltz, Dussiot, and Dangla ; in fact, out of the eight races he has competed in he has won seven, and lost the eighth through a puncture. It, therefore, looks as if Contenet will be the first rider to cover the coveted fifty miles in tile hour. His consistent riding is, no doubt,, due to, the careful and regular way of living all the year round, and continual practice (twice every day)) behind his faithful pacer. He first came into prominence last year, after Tom Linton met with his bad smash up at Leipsic, Contenet then securing Marius The as pacemaker, and since that time (August) he has gradually worked his way to the top of thp tree. He is 27 years of age, very unassuming, married, and a popular favourite wherever he goes.

If •> * * The League of New South Wales Wheelmen seem to be anything but a happy family, and a regular battle royal has been proceeding. At the Council meeting of the League Mr Branagan, who was lately deposed by the Council from the position of secretary because he disagreed with the members as. to the heavy charge made for services rendered in timing, etc., a race against the record, was cited to appear before the Council to show cause -idhy he should not be dealt with under Rule 23 —” The Council shall have power to fine, suspend, or expel any member guilty of

conduct detrimental to the interests of the League.” He did not attend, but the Council dealt with him in his absence, and decided to expel him as a member of the League. Mr Austin (treasurer) was instructed to take legal proceedings for the recovery of all books and papers of the League.

Mr Branagan was by no means disposed to quietly submit to the indignity offered, and called a general meeting of the League, at which over one hundred were present.

’l'he point was at once raised by members of the Council that the meeting waa illegal (says ” The Referee ”) not beiing called by rcK|;uisition through jthe Council and being brought together by Mr Branagan, whom the Council had deposed.

The chairman (several having, refusted io act in that capacity) uuled that the meeting was i.n order. The members of th® Council and their supporters, and forty altogether retired from the meeting. To the seventy who remained behind, Mr Branagan read letters from Narrandera, Armidale, Glen Innes, Eskbank, Lithg,ow> Gunnedah, and Braidwood Clubs, condemning the Council re the removal of th® secretary (who wasi elected by the whol® of the memfbers of the State), and the action which brought on the abandonment of the Goulburn road race. 1 After a little discussion, during which Mr J. Craig, vice-president of the Tamworth Club, and Mr Sullivan, who spoke for Wagga, Junee, and Coolamon Clubs, condemned the Council, Mr Remfrey (Australian Club, Sydney) moved, and Mr R. Wells' (president Newcastle Club), seconded: ‘‘ That, in view of the recent unconstitutional action of the Council in reference to the secretaryship of the League, the Council does not retain the confidence of the members.” motion was carried unanimously, the scrutineers announcing the number of votersl as sixtv-five. Meanwhile the Council and their following were holdings another meeting dealing with the new Constitution. The Branagan meeting nowjoined them. Mr Remfrey suggested that instead of adopting a new Constitution, the League go back to the initial one, under which it had enjoyed so much prosperity. Subsequently, after tome disorder and a declaration by a country member that hig club was utterly disgusted with the doings , of the Council, Mr Yates (Lithgow) moved. and Mr Remfrey seconded, and it was carried by a liargo majority, “ That th® proposed new Constitution be no longer debated or considered.” The meeting then broke up.

The London General Omnibus Company han just, acquired a specially-designed motor omnibus, of American make, which is expected to be running in a few weeks. If the experiment proves satisfactory the company is prepared, it is said, to substitute mechanically-propelled vehicles for the whole of the present horse-drawn stage coaches 1 , and, as about 1500 will be required, there is some fine business in prospect) for the car-builders.” The article then goes on to show that the advantages of the change will be manifold. The motor takes up less room per passenger carried than the present horse-drawn vehicles ; it will keep the streets cleaner, and the _ air less noisome. An opinion is also given that “ the introduction of the motors ought to put a check upon the growth ol tramways, which, however well laid, are a constant source of danger and inconvenience to all other users ot the roads.”