MOTORING & CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1299, 18 March 1915, Page 31

MOTORING & CYCLING

Two hundred and fifteen thousand tons of “Shell” petroleum spirit was imported into the United Kingdom during 1914.

The Hawke’s Bay County Council registered 5 motor-cars and 8 motor cycles last month. Dur.ng the same period the Borough Council regi stored 8 cars and 5 cycles.

“The French are magnificent flyers, so are the English, but' we Germans, said an officer, speaking to an American pressman “have the training. Esped ally in trained observers, we have a big advantage.”

It is' estJ mated that the maximum vaue of German and Austro-Hungar-ian export motor tyre trade which might be diverted to Biftish makers is’ roughly as follows: In United Kingdom £29 8.400, and the colonies and neutral markets £2,295.350, as' regards Germany, £2900, and £19,400 in the above order for AustroHungary.

The Manawatu Motor Cycle Club propose to hold a gymkana on the Woodville racecourse at an early date.

Mr. H. H. Shaw, of Hamilton, has purchased two Buick 1915 model, 25 h.p., five-seated touring cars, fitted with electric light and self-starting outfit, from Messrs. Hoiland and Gillett, of Auckland. The same firm has also sold two similar cars to Mr. J. Ormond, of Gisborne, and one to Mr. Murray, of Whangarei.

Mr. C. Knowles, of Messrs. Devin and Co., Wellington, has purchased a 10-15 h.p. Calcott light car, painted khaki, and with dynamo lighting outfit. from Mr. M. C. Farrington, of Auckland. The same firm has sold a similar car to Dr. Rowley, of Otahuhu. and a 1915 model 10.5 h.p. Calcott light car, painted grey and upholstered in green, with dynamo lighting apparatus, to Mr. Felix McGuire, Mountain Road, Epsom, Auckland.

A fine example of what Australian women abroad who have the means are doing at this junction is provided by Miss Kelso King, of Sydney. M-.ss King has fitted out a complete motor ambulance and has taken -t to the miltary base in France. She is an expert motorist, and will drive the ambulance herself at the front. Miss King has also obtained a first-class Red Cross' nursing certificate.

The shortage of oil supplies in Germany is reflected -in the advertising columns of the neutral press, in which unliml ted quantities of candles' are be ng sought at rates considerably above average market prices'.

The oil fuel business '.'n the United States has been g 1 ven a big impetus by the European war. Since the outbreak the supply stations in Port Arthur (Mexico) have been working at full capacity fulfilling the demand. Most of the fuel has been furnished to British and French ships.

No one can deny the fact that motor cyclists have loomed large in the titanic struggle at present engaging Europe, and thefr work has been over and over again referred to as a most useful adjunct to the situations of modern warfare. As despatch rider and in Red Cross work the motor-cyclist has done work of great value, so much that no future commander of a great army will feel

that he is fully equipped unless he has innumerable corps of despatch riders or Red Cross workers.

The Maharajah of Gwalior has presented His Majesty with 41 ambulance cars, four officers’ cars, five motor lorries and ten motor cycles. A brass' plate wth the inscription “Scinda” is attached to each vehicle. This welcome consignment of cars has been placed by the King at the disposal of the naval and military authorit es.

A Feilding resident has offered a motor ambulance to cost £lOOO to the Defence Authorities. He is over the age limit for active service, but' h? has volunteered to go and drive the ambulance.

That well-known traveller, Francis B’rt.es is going to explore the centre of Australia by a new route, v-a the north-east of New South Wales, thence across the desert' to Alice Springs, in the centre of the Continent. The trip, which needless to state, is not' a speed one. is expected to last two years. Birtles’ finest speed records are: —Fremantle to Adelaide (1930 miles), 20 days, 12 hours 35 minutes; Fremantle to Melbourne (2509 miles), 25 days, 5 ''.lours. 36 minutes; Fremantle to Sydney (3077 miles), 31 days, 3 hours 15 minutes.

Americans are seeking the electrically driven touring car, to cost no more than £100; wnich will do 20 miles . per hour, and have a light battery that ,would not requl re recharging at less than 75 to 100 m’les running.

M. Claude Couturier, |a French aviator who was flying at Rolleston, Canterbury with a Blefiot monoplane has written to a member of the “Press” staff that he was appointed to a posit; on in that portion of the French army stationed at Verdun. At he end of December M. Couturier was leaving Verdun to join the aviation corps in Lyons.

A story is going the' rounds concerning Wilbur Wright’s fidelity to his religious convictions'. He was abroad), and at the high tide of his first foreign success, being everywhere acclaimed as “The Emperor of the Air.” One day the King of Spain came to see his aeroplane. An order-

ly approached the famous airman and said, “His Majesty would like to see yen fly .” Courteously, but firmly, Mr Wright at once replied, “I am very sorry, but we never fly on Sunday.”

Messrs. McKeague and Allen, of 114 Disraeli Street, Gisborne-, have purchased from Messrs. Spink and Miller, Auckland, a new 20 h.p. extra strong Colonial Noiseless Napier. The car is painted a delicate shade of light grey, picked out with darker colour

to harmonise with the dark blue upholstery, and is fitted with C.A.V. electric lighting set. Messrs. McKeague and Allen are extremely pleased with their new purchase, and they have arranged to take up the Nap'.er agency for Gisborne.

One of the most severe reliability trials undertaken in New Zealand was that comple.ed by the Canterbury Automobile .Association last week. The route selected was from Christchurch to the Hermitage, Mount Cook, and back, a distance of 440 miles. The journey out was started on Saturday morning, and at 5.22 p.m. on Monday the first car in the trial arrived back at the starting point. Fifteen cars were entered. All the cars made a non-stop run to Fairlie, 119 miles, and Kennedy’s F.1.A.T., which won last year’s trial, and was the first car to leave Christchurch, did the distance in 4hrs. 13min. Altogether ten cars out of the fifteen entered arrived at the Herm.tage within time, and five had a non-stop run, these being H. W. Piper's Cadillac, Captain E. McLean’s Cadillac, L. N. Montgomery’s Hupmobile, J. C. Mercer’s Hupmobile, and Fleming’s F.I.A.T. The cars registering one stop were Dr. Simpson’s Hupmobile, Hawkes and Co.’s Delage, and Mr. Stevenson’s New Pick. The official car, Mr. Clim e’s Buick, did a good run, and got to the Hermitage first, only having a stop of a couple of minutes.

On Monday at 7.7 a.m. Mr. Johnston’s Panhard started for the return trip, via the Rakia Gorge. He had a fast non-stop run back, checking in at the garage at 5.22 p.m. At 5.41 p.m. Montgomery’s Hupmobile, credited with a non-stop both ways, arrived. Montgomery, however, had the misfortune to lose points for dropping his rear light, which was picked up by another car and brought in to the Hermitage on Saturday. At 6.7 p.m. Captain McLean (Cadillac) arrived, also non-stop both ways, but he also lost points for losing his spare wheel and spare tyre off the back of the car, a mishap he never noticed. Dr. Simpson (Hupmobile) then put in an appearance, and reported certain stops for creeks and for taking in petrol, stops which were sufficient to put him out of the trial. Hawkes and Co.’s Delage was the next car in, and reported a 25sec. stop on the home journey for water in the carburetter. Practically at the same time Kennett, in the F.1.A.T., arrived, having had an excellent run with only two short stops against him. Then came Piper (Cadillac) with an unsullied record

sheet. After him came Mercer in a two-year-old Hupmobile, at 6.35, with an absolutely clean sheet both ways, a very meritorious performance. Then, after a long wait, Fleming (F.I.A-T.) turned up, having spoilt a most excellent run, which was practically nonstop both ways, by having taken a wrong turning at a bridge and got into deep water, where he stuck. While up at the Hermitage the motorists raised about £3O in subscriptions for the Belgian Fund, and also got together an acceptable little sum on behalf of a charity which Mr. R. Wigley, of the Mount Cook Motor Service, is supporting, in recognition of his invaluable services in assisting competitors stranded in the creeks.