MOTORTNG & CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1436, 1 November 1917, Page 26

MOTORTNG & CYCLING

A Motor Gymkana held at Wanganui on Monday week realised £250 for the Girls’ Friendly Society.

Mr. W. H. Davenport, the wellknown architect of Auckland, brother of Flight-Lieutenant Davenport, is in hospital at Brockenhurst, suffering from a wound obtained while on service in France. Mr. W. H. Davenport has been for the last two years driving a motor ambulance in Egypt and France. * * * * There would seem to be some difference in the military and commercial estimate of the sacredness of contracts (says a writer in the London “Daily News”). While enlistment was on a voluntary basis many motor drivers and mechanics were engaged for the duration of the war, the wages being about six shillings a day. Recently many of these, who had been performing marvels of cross-country driving behind the lines, have been recalled for an official test of their driving abilities. In view of their records it seems superfluous, but they were turned down with singular unanimity. The sequel was probably not unforeseen. They became liable for service under the Act, were re-enlisted, passed as drivers, and.\' found themselves back at their old Jobs at a pay something less than one-third of the old rate. t * * * The un versal use of the motor car by the farmer was evidenced at the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s recent show at Leeston, says a Christchurch paper, when no fewer than 200 cars were drawn up around the show ring. The scene was reminiscent of old-time racing days, when parties travelled to the sporting arena in traps and coaches, taking with them hampers well stocked for the day’s requirements. Each car drew up to the ring on the right or left of one already in place, and by midday there was an almost unbroken ring of cars. A pretty and impressive spectacle was presented, and at the close of the proceedings the cars drew out of their position and moved away from the ground as easily and gracefully as they had entered. On a rough calculaton the value of the cars was between £50,000 and £60,000. * * * * The city of Paris has purchased for its own use 200 motor lorries, comprising one hundred Fiats at £1360 each, and one hundred Pierce Arrow (U.S.A.) at £1920 each. The total outlay, covering spares, etc. amounts to £452,000. These vehicles are to be used for the distribution of coal and foodstuffs in Par s. * * * * The extraordinary development of cycling in America has raised the question of laying down special side tracks on popular routes for the sole use of cyclists, owing to increasing danger on account of the large number of cars in use. It is considered well-nigh imperative that something should be done to minimise the motor danger. In the early days of the cycling boom special tracks were laid down —mostly by subscription by cyclists, etc. —in several European countries, also in America and one or two in Australia, but in those days it was a matter of comfort for the rider. Nowadays, the increasing use of motors of every description makes the matter a more serious one, for where thousands of cars are in continuous use on main thoroughfares (as they are in many American cities) it is becoming a serious traffic problem, which will eventually call for proper control. * * • On July 31st, 1917, there were registered in America 4,242,139 motor vehicles, or one vehicle for every 24 men, women and children in the United States. This stupendous total is approximately six times as man cars as there are in all the rest o the world. Since the beginning of this year, up to the end of July, there was an increase, despite the war. c 700,401 cars. Included in the above figures are approximately 500,000 motor commercial vehicles.

There has been a general improvement in the motor trade in Ashburton during the past two months. A local agent informed a “Guardian” reporter that the demand for new cars at present far exceeded the available supply, and the prospects of shipments were very uncertain. Repair work is st 11 being well maintained. * * * # Despite the fact that the United States Government is now ordering large numbers of military motor waggons, and also the difficulties of shipping, American manufacturers of industrial motor vehicles continue to export large numbers of machines. The latest returns are for May last — during which month the exports from the United States reached a total of 1764 machnes, valued at £643,325, as compared with 1717 and £871,445 in the corresponding month of last year. It will be noted that the machines exported were apparently of a smaller class than hitherto, as while the number showed an increase, there was a decrease in the aggregate value. The subsequent returns for U.S. exports are likely to show a falling off.

Messrs. Harry Driver (Waipawa) and Jack H. Batey (Stratford) belong to the R.N. Motor Boat Reserve, and .are serving at an East Coast naval base. * * * The Auckland Automobile Association at their last meeting brought before the City Council the danger of acc.dent ar.sing out of small boys with trolleys using the streets indiscriminately. On this matter the Traffic Inspector reported that a number of boys and parents had been warned. So far as Queen Street and Karangahape Road were concerned, the boys used the street in conformity with the by-law, and were consequently within their rights, although, in order to decrease the risk of accident, he endeavoured as much as poss ble to discourage boys from running their trolleys in Queen Street. ■ • * • • Particulars have been received by Mr. L. W. Gordon, of Thames, of the death of his son, Flight-Lieutenant A. W. Gordon, who died on August 12 of wounds. Flight-Lieutenant Cook, D.C.M., writes to the effect that “Lieutenant Gordon, with two other British scout pilots, attacked ten enemy aeroplanes, and was successful in bringing one down, when an accident to his machine resulted in his having both legs broken. He was taken to a military hospital, but his injuries unexpectedly proved fatal 13 days afterwards.” Lieutenant Gordon obtained his first flying experience at the New Zealand Flying School at Kohimarama.

Lieutenant J. L. Foubister. who was killed -in an aceropiaAe accident at Croydon on October Bth, was born at Mangonui, North Auckland. He was educated at the Epsom School, and subsequently at St. John’s College. Upon leaving school he became a motor mechanic. In sport he was very successful, and at the age of eighteen was prominent as a cyclist. He was afterwards successful in motor cycle racing. After passing through, the New Zealand Fly mg School at Kohimarama, he went ito England to complete his training. He had passed all his theory examinations in England, and was probably undergoing his final test when the accident happened which terminated a promising career. * * * v A correspondent who is unable tr find the fee of £lOO for the flying course at Christchurch, has written to ask whether a knowledge of wireless might be a doorway to servi. in the Royal Flying Corps, either pilot or observer. Unfortunately it is impossible to give a very encouraging reply on this point (says the

Chritschurch “Star”). A knowledge of wireless is absolutely necessary to pilot and observer, and the latest regulation provides a minimum test of twelve words a minute. There is a wireless corps at Tr.entham, and the correspondent might be able to join it, but he could have little prospect of a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps unless he possessed special mechanical knowledge as well, and even then he might be transferred merely to non-commissioned rank, with a very slender chance of winning his wings. Mr. C. M. Hill, the Canterbury Aviation Company’s instructor, to whom the question was referred, said that even at Home it would be necessary to find more than the fee charged in Christchurch to go through the flying course. Meanwhile, however, the- candidate might very well study wireless, and also the principles of flight, as well as mapreading. A knowledge of mechanics would be a great help, and it went without saying that rifle shooting and the handling of a machine gun were important phases of a pilot’s training. But if a man was capable of

holding commissioned rank, the wisest course was to go straight for the pilot’s certificate first. Any average man could learn to fly sufficiently for the Royal Aero Club’s certificate, and that was always necessary for entrance to the R.F.C. Virtually, the course required only a guarantee of £75, and while the correspondent might very well qualify himself in wireless beforehand, it was advisable to go straight for the pilot’s certificate. ••• • . The motor car continued to be a big influence in overcoming the difficulties caused by the recent strike in Sydney. Its adaptability, in fact, proved to be one of the biggest snags which the Strike Committee could have met, and it saved the community from untold loss and inconvenience. First, it largely preserved the comfort of the population, that had been deprived suddenly of its means of transport to and from its places of business, and then it saved the situation in regard to the transport of foodstuffs and merchandise, when the trolly and dray men and other union-

itsts had decreed that these should not be handled or transported. Both the commercial car and the private car then demonstrated their capabTities. The Government commandeered 75 motor waggons in the interests of the State, each with a loading capacityranging from one to six tons, besides having taken over 450 horse-drawn vehicles, and in the first fortnight, it is estimated, 20,000 tons of goods were thus moved from the wharves and stations, to and from the big mercantile houses, and from the latter tothe suburbs. It is estimated that there are now in the Commonwealth nearly 41,000 motor cars, 22,000 motor cycles, and 2200 commercial motors. * * ♦ * When giving evidence in a case a]t the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, the other day, Louis S. Drake, motor inspector to the City Council, said that 3250 motor-driven vehicles, includ ng motor bicycles, had been registered in Wellington. For some time he had been advocating'the education of children to avoid motor traffic in the streets.