MOTORING & CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1322, 26 August 1915, Page 35

MOTORING & CYCLING

Sir John French states that a total of approximately 160,000 miles have been flown almost entirely over the enemy’s lines by the British airmen.

Mr. William White, the well-known Christchurch motorist, is leaving for London. He has volunteered his services for the Royal Flying Squadron.

Reports from London state that a fine spirit prevails amongst the smartest women in town, who now ride in omnibuses and tubes, having lent their automobiles and other carriages for the use of wounded soldiers.

The Earl of Norbury is to work as a fitter in a Surrey aeroplane factory. He has made a hobby of mechanics, and obtained the post in answer to an advertisement. He will work from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and lodge in one room near the factory.

Motorists will probably find that their machines will start much easier on cold mornings if a little paraffin is injected into the cylnder overnight. After injecting the paraffin it is advisable to crank the engine a few times, in order to allow the paraffin to work round the piston rings, and thus prevent gumming.

H. G. Hawker, the Victorian aviator, now in England, recently established a new British altitude record by flying to a height of 20,000 ft., which means an altitude of over Sth miles. It took Hawker an hour and a-half to accomplish his flight. He used an 80 h.p. Sopwith biplane—a similar make of machine to char used by him in Australia.

A fine Hudson motor ambulance was presented recently by members of the Sydney Girls’ Realm Guild to the military authorities. Colonel Luscombe officially received the gift, which was presented by Mrs. Crichton Smith, head of the Wahroonga centre of the Guild. The ambulance is of the latest type, and can accommodate four stretchers. It will be used for some time at Liverpool camp before going to the front.

The French factory of the. Continental Tyre Company, in the suburbs of Paris, has been partially destroyed by fire. Flames were first observed on the top of the main building. The fire was overcome after the roof had fallen and the two upper storeys, in which a considerable quantity of raw rubber was stocked, had been gutted. The cause of the outbreak is unknown, but it is suggested that it may have been the work of Germans.

The raffle for a motor car arranged by the civil servants of New Plymouth is to be proceeded with. It has been ascertained that the position of the police is that no more raffles will be allowed without the consent of the Minister for Internal Affairs, but that the unauthorised raffles now in progress will be allowed to be completed, provided they are put through as soon as possible. The civil servants intend to close the sale of tickets for the motor car on September 30. There are many applications from outside districts for books of tickets for the raffle, and the war fund will doubtless benefit largely from it.

California registered 131,123 cars last year.

There is one gilt-edged investment which the war has beneficially affected. The shareholders in “Shell” oil are winning all the way. The profits of the “Shell” Transport and Trading Company for the past year were £1,169,000 as compared with the comparatively contemptible amount of £199,000 in 1914. The shareholders got a dividend of 7s. for every £1 invested, or 35 per cent. In other words, they held the stock and gave the public the contents of the barrel!

“Speaking of aircraft, this war has in ten months done more for flying than ten years of peace. Although we are not permitted to give detaTs, a British inventor has, since the war began, perfected a machine which, while heavier than air, is able to rise from rest and to hover. It has, weight for weight, immensely greater lifting power than any aeroplane, and is also far safer than any other form of flying machine. It is without doubt the future means of locomotion.”

It is reported in France that Mayer, the well-known German racing cyclist, has been captured within the French lines, wearing the uniform of a French sergeant-major, and shot as a spy. Mayer, who had spent twenty years in France, was captured by a body

of cyclists whilst trying to obtain .information regarding the French positions. An examination of his papers revealed his identity.

This afternoon, says Chaplin-Major Grant, writing from the Dardanelles, we saw an airman make a graceful descent upon the water after having made a reconnaissance of the enemy’s position. He looked exactly like a great bird sitting on the sea. The whole movement was carried out so easily and naturally that the water did not seem to be disturbed. After resting for a quarter of an hour he unfolded his wings again, and raced along the surface of the sea, gradually and almost imperceptibly rising into the upper air. After circling once he flew away into the west and disappeared over the horizon. At one point of the circle the sun shone full upon the planes, making the machine look like a gigantic silver-spangled butterfly! From our hill tops above the sea we see some memorable sights.

Very uncomplimentary remarks were made at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Automobile Union in reference to the New Zealand roads. It was suggested that much money was wasted by small county councils in the way in which they carried out repairs or even constructions, and the need for expert advice was stressed. The Otago Motor Club suggested that the Government should be asked to

establish a public roads office, to be in charge of an engineer who was a roads specialist and able to give advice free of charge to local bodies. The idea was generally regarded as excellent, and it was decided to urge the appointment of a Government engineer to advise on, inspect, and superintend the construction and repairs of roads.

Lady Mills and Mrs. Arthur Russell have lent their motor cars in London to take a number of convalescent soldiers now staying at the Union Jack Club for drives through the metropolis.

The Napier Company, on behalf of their New Zealand agents, have made a special appeal to the British War Office to allow a few of the latest 30-45 cwt. Napier business vehicle chassis to be shipped to this country, and the war authorities have so far relaxed their grip that the vehicles are expected shortly in the Dominion. These are the only vehicles which have been allowed to leave since August last year. As there are over 8000 of these vehicles now working in the Allied service their value and stamina needs no bush. The vehicles which are being shipped to New Zealand embody all the improvements which the long, heavy strain under war conditions have shown necessary.