MOTORING & CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1433, 11 October 1917, Page 26

MOTORING & CYCLING

The following pupils of the New Zealand Flying School at Kohimarama qualified for the Royal Aero Club certificates last week: —R. M. de Lsle, Hastings; James Woods, Weilington; C. "W« Gillies, UcLk&ta-rßinea, South Canterbury. Forty-four pupils of the school have now passed their preliminary tests.

Mr. Douglas Pulsford, of Wellington, who left last year with the first draft of the New Zealand Motor Boat Patrol, has been awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government for “special services” with the British Secret Service, and has, in addition, been recommended for the D.C.M. and mentioned twice in despatches.

“Body armour would be of the greatest service if a suitablei form could be devised,” said a surgeon at one of the London mil tary hospitals. “Most of the serious heart woiinds are fatal. Perforations of the lungs, injuries to the great blood vessels in the chest, and wounds of the abdomen are usually very serious and are numerous enough to call for a protective device. But wounds of the limbs, head and neck are more common than body wounds in this war.

The Petrol Controller says that of the total quantity of petrol imported into England not more than 10 per cent, is allocated for private cars, includ ng motor cars and motor cycles used by doctors and veterinary surgeons, Government inspectors of munitions and food production, Red Cross workers, and others engaged on cert fled work of national importance.

A lady motor cyclist at Newport (England) was recently charged at the police court with failing to stop her motor cycle when requested, and riding at a “reckless rate” with a lady on the carrier. The defendant contended that one could not do much that was daring and reckless with a 2?. h.p. machine and a passenger on the back. A fine of 8s costs was imposed.

According to English papers to hand the registered petrol imports into England are 7,368,000 gallons more for the first five months of this year than for the corresponding period of 1916. These figures represent little more than the normal civilian consumption, and as only five per cent, is now licensed for private use it shows the enormous increase in the use of industrial motor vehicles.

It was reported recently that the French military authorities were employing light cars for staff work in the war zone. Quite early in the war a few Baby Peugeot and Zebra cars were so employed, but the most recent announcement indicates the definite policy of substituting small cars for big ones on a large scale, and that in the interests of economy. How far the Germans have followed suit is not revealed. We only know definitely (says the English “Light Car”) that the Adler, Mathis and Wanderer cars assist the German armies to a certain extent (the Mathis works, which are French in essentials, being in German hands just now), and that narrow track 10 h.p. German tandem light cars have proved very useful for negotiating mountain tracks in the Balkans. On the other hand, our own War Office has only employed a small fleet of Singer cars, though two or three other British light car firms have surplus labour and machinery, with which they have steadily turned out a limited number of cars for civilian use. We have indicated previously that light cars are not ideally adapted for war areas, and wherein they fail: but other nations find the r smaller cars worth using. The war is now costing us over £7,000,000 per day, and bids fair to become a war of exhaustion in finance and other resources. There is at least no reason why staff cars employed on home service purposes should not be of 10 h.p. rather than of 20 h.p. or over.

S x thousand persons have been trained for munition work at special classes established by the Educaton Committee in the London area.

Mr. P. O. P. Beck, who left Wellington with the Motor Boat Patrol, is now a sen or lieutenant, and is officer commanding one of the new large motor lighters. Mr. Beck has had a fairly varied experience on different craft.

A motor car for the use o c the sold'ers in hospital in Christchurch is to be purchased and maintained by the Canterbury Automobile Association.

Sessue Hayayawa, the remarkable Japanese actor, who figures prominently in the movies, is noted as an expert motorist, and has won numerous races in the United States. He has a fleet of five racing cars, and several big prizes have been won by him.

Miss S. M. Ryder, the first woman to pass the two “knowledge of London” examinations at Scotland Yard for taxicab driving, passed her driving test on August 1, and applied for her license. Miss Ryder, a darkhaired girl, with hazel eyes and an athletic walk, has completed her studies of London and motor driving i

in little more than three months

The following officers have been elected on the Canterbury Automobile Association: —Patron, the GovernorGeneral; president, Mr. W. H. Tisdall; vice-president, Mr. J. S. Hawkes; honorary treasurer, Mr. A. A. McKellar; honorary auditor, Mr. J. B. Beckett; council, Messrs. P. R. Climie, F. W. Johnston, F. Hubbard, W. E. Mills, C. G. McKellar, H. Lghtband, P. S. Nicholls, F. D. Kesteven, and R. Lochhead.

At the Boat Harbour, Wellington, last week, Mr. J. B. Clarkson, who has lately returned from a trip to England, gave an interesting exhibition of the use of a new marine lifesaving suit which he purchased in New York prior to facing the submarine menace on the run across the Atlantic. Mr. Clarkson donned the life-sav'ng suit in his ordinary street attire, boots and all, and then entered the water. He rested vert.cally. the water reaching just up to h’s armpits, and then by slightly reclining backwards was able to propel himself with the use of his hands to the centre of the boat harbour. Mr. Clarkson then smoked a cigarette, and drank a glass of milk without the slightest difficulty. After bang in the water for about twenty minutes Mr. Clarkson came out and took off

his suit. He was perfectly dry, and was as warm as before he entered tlm water. The suit is made of a thick material and coated with rubber. On the inside there are two small cushions —one on the back and the other on the chest —stuffed with kapoc and llama silk. There is nothng else in the suit to keep a person afloat. On the front there is a large waterproof pocket for holding food, and it is stated that a person would be able to live for several days in the suit. This life-preserver is a war invention, and was perfected in the interest of passengers across the Atlantic.

At the fourteenth annual meeting of the Canterbury Automobile Assoc ation, held the other day, Mr. A. S. Clarkson, who presided, congratulated members on the success of the year’s operations. The council had had a strenuous year, but the balance-sheet showed a very satisfactory condition of the finances. The speaker was especially pleased to be able to say that during his two years of office the membership had nearly doubled. It was also gratifying to be able to report that a sum of £1574 had been contributed to the Red Cross Funds. The project for a mutual insurance assoc’ation for car owners was now near'y ready for launching, and thanks were due to Mr. F. W. Johnston for draft ng a very satisfactory scheme. Local bod’es had given the associa-

t on every assistance during the year, and they were willing to accept advice and assistance from the association. The speaker paid a tribute to the valuable work which was being done by the New Zealand Automobile Un on, in the direction of watching legislation likely to affect the interests of motorists.

Tokyo is the headquarters for all motor car sales agencies in Japan. There are seven in that city at present —four Japanese and three American importers. Some of them have small branches in other large cities, such as Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and Nagoya. Yokohama is only 18 miles from Tokyo and is the best market outside of the capital, but has only one or two dealers, as the city can be more conveniently covered from Tokyo. With one or two exceptions the sale of motor cars is bur. a branch of a general importing business, and generally only the larger and more responsible concerns indulge in motor car sales agencies, which up to very lecently have been more or less of a precar'ous venture. Sale and Frazer, an Engl sh-Ameriean firm, have done the largest business in motor cars in Japan, having imported over 400 Fords, which is the greatest number of any one make in the country.

PROGRESSIVE WELLINGTON FIRM.

DAVIDSON AND CO. The illustration appearing on this page depicts the new up-to-date motor garage and engineering works erected on the Hutt Road, Wellington, by Messrs. Davidson and Co., a firm which has rapidly come into prominence as one of the foremost motoring institutions in New Zealand. Messrs. Davidson and Co. are agents for the Rover and Allen cars, also the wellknown White trucks, a trio of conveyances that have acquired a wide range of popularity with the travelling and commercial public throughout the Torn nion The firm’s premises are fitted with practically every modern equipment and convenience that the minds of motor manufacturers and designers of garages have devised. The workrooms are fitted with the latest inventions for effecting quick repairs and overhauls to all makes of cars and trucks. Vulcanis ng is carr ed out in all its branches on the premises. As carburetter specialists, Davidson and Co. have kept abreast of the times by installing one of the most complete plants n New Zealand, whi’e they are agents for the Master carburetter, which is acknowledged everywhere to be in the forefront of the most efficient and reliable carburetters yet invented. Batteries are charged with a minimum of delay.

The firm have recently installed a free air device for the use of motorists, all that is necessary to ensure correct inflation of the tyres being to turn a tap and the tyres are practically inflated in the space of a few seconds. This innovation will be greatly apprec’ated, and as the garage is on the main and only arterial road out of Wellington, the firm should not want for patronage from the travelling public. The firm deal extensively in accessories, and carry a large stock of Connolly solid tyres, Autoline oils, Vaseil grease, and various reputable compounds that go to make a motor car run efficiently. Only skilled and capable mechanics are employed, and motorists entrustng Davidson and Co. with their work can rest assured that all repa rs will be carried out with a high degree of satisfaction. The firm deal both in the wholesale and retail line, and they will at all t’mes be glad to answer enquiries and arrange demonstration runs in their cars. The motor department is under the control of Mr. F. O’Neill, formerly of Messrs. Maling and Co., Chrstchurch, and with the wide I-: nowledge he possesses of the motoring industry the firm of Davidson and Co will undoubtedly attain a prominent position amongst the motor and traction importers of the Dominion.