MOTORING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1460, 18 April 1918, Page 28

MOTORING

Among the candidates who were successful in passing the preliminary flying tests recently held at Kohimarama School, Auckland, was Mr. D. T. Goodson, son of Mr. C. Goodson, of Hawera. * * * * Flight-Lieutenant George Scott Murray, of the Tasman district, who was awarded the Military Cross for services rendered during the East African campaign, has been promoted to the rank of captain. Captain Murray received his decoration at the hands of the King. :;s * * * Sub-Lieutenant Spencer R. Mason, of Wellington, who has been serving with the Motor Boat Patrol, has been promoted lieutenant. Lieutenant Mason is well known in legal and yachting circles in Wellington. * Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Cooper, of Masterton, are on a motor tour of the North Island. * The Auckland Automobile Association has decided to distribute cards among the soldiers on returning ships, advising the men that cars are provided free by the members of the association and others to convey them to their homes. * * * * The winner of the Chevrolet car, the first prize in the Wellington Natives’ Association’s Easter Egg scheme, is Mr. W. J. Conibear, of 12 Drake Street, North Kilbirnie, and an employee of the Wellington Cabinet Company, Adelaide Road. s*. * * There is going the round in Paris a characteristic story of M. Caillaux. One Sunday afternoon he • appeared before the Committee of Eleven charged with investigating his case. He had, as usual, staggered every one with the absolute coolness with which he met all charges. But when he left the Chamber in the darkness and falling snow, no cab was to be found. “Sapristi,” cried the Deputy as he looked in vain for a friendly ’•fiacre.” Then an idea struck him, and he approached a motor car containing detectives. “It is you who are shadowing me?” he questioned. “Yes, monsieur.” “Very well, then, take me home,” said M. Caillaux, as he entered the police car. Few things evidently can upset M. Caillaux s nerve. » * * At a meeting of the Otago Motor Club it was decided that the attention of the Carters’ Association be drawn to the careless manner in which some drivers managed their . vehicles on the public highways. Mr. W. Wright was appointed to represent the club at a meeting of the New Zealand Automobile Association in Wellington to consider certain borough by-laws which had been forwarded by the Under Secretary for Internal Affairs for examination and comment. A committee of eight members was set up to report on the various speed limits of all the local bodies in and around Dunedin: (1), whether same are reasonable or unreasonable; (2), if unreasonable, what do they consider a reasonable speed for the various local bodies; (3), the above report to be obtained with a view to consulting the various local bodies to try to get speed limits adopted that will be recognised as reasonable, so that all motorists will endeavour to observe same.’ * * * Another aeroplane story has been proved to be a myth. The Hon. T. M. Wilford, Minister in charge of the Police Department, stated to a Christchurch “Press” reporter that the Commissioner of Police had reported to him that he had made all inquiries of the parties who were supposed to have seen an aeroplane flying over the Tauranga district, and not one of them had even heard of the report. % * * * When the United States Government opened the bids from the manufacturers for the supply of 42,000 military lorries, they found that 73 firms were prepared to turn out 100,000 vehicles within a year.

An interesting account of a visit to the Sockburn Aviation School, Christchurch, is given in the Dunedin “Star” by Mr. A. E. Ansell. “We were much indebted- to Mr. C. M. Hill, the manager, for a pleasant hour there,” he says, “his companion being Mr. W. Stuart Wilson. He showed us all that was to be seen. Unfortunately the weather was against any flying being done whilst we were there, as a heavy drizzle was falling, and Mr. Hill explained that in such weather the rain felt like shot being thrown against one. There are three hangars, each accommodating two machines. The horsepower of these machines ranges from 45 to 100. Each machine is equipped with an Anzani engine. The 100 h.h. machine has 10 cylinders, arranged in a circle, but they are not rotary, as in a Gnome engine. Ignition is obtained from two magnetos, each one firing five cylinders. The oil is fed under pressure to the various parts through a hollow crank shaft. Mr. Hill next explained the system of tuition. . In the first stage the pupil ascends with a tutor in a 60 h.p. machine. This machine has double controls, the pupil taking part in the various operations. The next stage is flights with a tutor in the 100 h.p. machine, until the pupil is efficient. He is then allowed to fly on his own in a 45 h.p. machine. Mr. Hill describes the system as thoroughly safe, and states that so far there have been no accidents —a

splendid testimony to Mr. Hill’s work. The machines used are made on the grounds, the engine only being imported. The pupils assist in making the planes, overhauling the engines, etc., and naturally this gives them a good insight into the working requirements of the completed machine. The school is working up to its full capacity of 18 pupils, and a lot more are awaiting vacancies. The age limit of budding airmen has been raised to 30. In an interesting chat with Mr. Hill we gathered a good deal of information concerning the art of flying, and he incidentally paid a tribute to young Fyfe, who, when out on his examination trip, got lost in the clouds. The manager’s comparison of aerial and ‘terra firma’ motoring were certainly to the detriment of the latter, and Mr. Hill predicts'very confidently a great future for the aeroplane. I suppose some day we will see a flying school out on the Taieri Plain. As you have stated more than once, the time is opportune for some of our progressive business men to take the matter in hand.”

“The Light Car” (England) thus relieves its feelings: It is perhaps only reasonable to expect that with any laws hastily improvised to meet exigencies, certain anomalies are bound sooner or later to become revealed. Certainly, most of the regulations brought into being under the Defence of the Realm Act contain what are sometimes absurd incongruities. At the moment we have in mind the fact that the use of their own cars for private purposes by motorists who live within reasonable distance of a tramcar or train service is practically prohibited, yet, if they wished, they could hire a taxicab, which might have to do double the mileage to give the same service, and probably would use four times as much petrol as a light car. Motor ’buses and tramcars are still permitted to compete on the same routes, while we have heard of cases where a ton lorry has been sent a 40-mile run to fetch a parcel which the driver has carried in his pocket, and this in a district adequately served by railways and motor ’buses. If the petrol shortage is so serious as we all — now —believe it to be, the evidence — which is sufficient to amount of the greatest possible extent is most discouraging. As an instance, the London taxis appear to be used chiefly for theatre and dinner parties, and it is not uncommon to see ten out of twelve vehicles minus passengers and their drivers “crawling” for fares. This represents waste!

The committee of the Auckland Automobile Association at its last meeting received from Mr. M. H. Wynyard a report on the steps taken in the direction of forming a good roads association. It was pointed out in discussing that at present the good roads association was a body only in name, and it was decided that the chairman and secretary of the good roads conference should be empowered to call the meeting together again for the purpose of electing officers and adopting a constitution. Members emphasised the fact that the object of the good roads association was to improve country roads generally—not city roads. Interviewed subsequently with reference to the above statements, the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, said the condition of the whole of the streets was well known to all the members of the council. Nobody was more alive than himself to the fact that the condition of many of the streets was not as good as he desired it to be. It was purely a question of finance. The question the present administration had to face was whether it was getting the best result for the expenditure. The

council would have to obtain more revenue if it was to meet the demand for improved services, including streets. One way to raise increased revenue for streets improvement would probably be the placing of a substantial tax on motor traffic, a method that had been adopted by many of the leading cities of the world. Fast motor traffic, particularly on a road such as Remuera main road, contributed more to wear and tear than any other form of traffic. There was absolutely no foundation for the statement that Remuera had been neglected by the city. Speaking generally, it could be reasonably claimed that the city had better roads to-day than ever It had. That did not, of course, involve satisfaction with present conditions, but the improvement that had taken place during the past 10 years indicated that the council was alive to its responsibilities. No doubt the paved roads laid down in recent years had raised our idea of standards, and what was formerly good enough was now discountenanced, but critics should not be unreasonable. * * * * A telegraphic communication received in London this month from Reuters’ correspondent at French headquarters and transmitted by cable to Australia is as follows: — “The Germans have begun to dispute our air superiority, which the British and French had maintained on

the first ten days of the battle. The German champion, Count von Richthofen, has appeared in command of a powerful squadron of fighting ’planes. Recently the French airmen descended as low as 60 feet, where they wrought havoc in the enemy columns and created an invaluable delay in the enemy progress. Our ’planes have accurately located the commencements of trenches which the Germans have begun to dig.” * *■ * * Sixty pupils have now passed the tests at the Sockburn Aviation School, Christchurch. Messrs. McLaren and Parsons, of Christchurch, gained certificates last week. * * * Melbourne’s first woman taxi driver is Miss Pamela Brown, a young woman of good education, and an accomplished linguist and musician. She determined to become a taxi driver, studied at a motoring school, learned to drive, and is now out with her own car. She appears in orthodox chauffeur’s costume, can do her own running repairs, and can mend a car on the road.

Mr. E. H. Prockter, Australasian representative for the North British Rubber Co., Ltd., has just completed an extensive business trip throughout New Zealand in the interests of this world-famed rubber manufacturing firm, whose headquarters are at Castle Mills, Edinburgh. Altogether Mr. Prockter spent from six to seven weeks in the Dominion before returning to Melbourne. Mr. Prockter announces that large quantities of the firm’s celebrated tyres and trench boots are being supplied for the front. Despite the great demands made upon the North British Rubber Co., Ltd., by the Home Government, the company, as a result of herculean efforts, have lately increased their output to such an extent as to allow of a fair surplus for distribution through the Dominions, a fact that will readily be appreciated by motorists in this country, who have been quick to recognise the splendid merits of North British Clincher tyres. Their sole New Zealand agents, Messrs. Hayward Bros, and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, are at present carry-, ing large stocks of solid tyres, and are also landing considerable consignments of pneumatic tyres of various sizes for motor cars and motor cycles, which should receive the attention of our readers. The North British Rubber Company., Ltd., anticipate a very large output after the termination of the war, and as their tyres are meeting with the keenest appreciation both in New Zealand and Australia, there is every prospect of a rapidlygrowing demand from colonial motorists. The experience of Clincher tyre users in this country has been of so encouraging a nature as to further enhance the prospects of this worldfamed tyre from a colonial standpoint, there being a unanimity of opinion that the clincher is an ideal tyre in every respect for the road conditions obtaining in New Zealand. * * * The Petrol Control Department at Home has issued an appeal specially urging everyone in His Majesty’s Forces the necessity for the utmost care and economy in the use of petrol and paraffin, in view of the present shortage. The necessity for the avoidance of waste through spilling when filling up fuel tanks, or by needlessly keeping the engine running, is specially emphasised. Every gallon saved, it is pointed out, either adds to the tonnage space available for food, or if used for commercial road transport in food distribution by motor helps to keep down prices. On the other hand, whoever uses petrol or paraffin unnecessarily or wrongfully, or wastes it, “is acting to the advantage of the enemy.” ♦ * * * A print of about 100 years old is supposed to represent the first genuine flight made about 1750 by John Baptiste Dante, a mathematician of Perugia, Italy. The glide is stated to have been witnessed by the whole of the inhabitants of the town “to

their great admiration.” The description says that “he took his flight from the highest part of the city, and flew over the square, but, unfortunately, the mechanism of one of his wings failed at that moment, and he fell on to the church and broke his leg.” * * * * The task of the Motor Transport Volunteers, the organisation which provides means of conveyance across London for -soldiers arriving home on leave during the night, is continuously extending. To meet the ever-increasing need for vehicles, local funds, each designed to raise sufficient money to purchase a lorry ready for service, are being opened in several London districts, and recently the M.T.V. received an anonymous gift of £750 to be devoted to this purpose. An American insurance innovation —copied to some extent from a plan adopted on some railways—is that of insurance tickets for individual trips on motor cars. The tickets are obtained from slot machines placed in suitable positions in towns, a policy of £2OO, available for 24 hours, being thus obtained. * * * * The most costly car in the world is at present in Australia. It is an exhibition golden Studebaker. £6OOO has been refused for the car. In its construction £1650 of gold was used, while the process of electroplating cost over £l4OO. The upholstery and top are of the finest white kid, while the body is covered with flawless

white enamel. When its tour of exhibition is ended the car will be taken back to America and placed in the famous Studebaker museum, along with the car used by General Lafayette while in America, and with other historical vehicles. It is stated that the golden Studebaker will be on view in different towns of the Dominion very shortly. At the annual meeting of United Dairies, Limited (England), the chairman stated that at the present time a horse costs £2 a week to maintain in London, whilst in the country it could be kept on £l. As it can earn £3 a week in useful labour, each horse set free from London thus represents a clear national gain of £4 a week. » * * * Sir Douglas Haig in reviewing last year’s fighting, said: “The enemy shows no sign of relaxing his endeavours in this department of war. While acknowledging, therefore, most fully the great effort that has been made to meet the ever-increasing demands of this most important service, I feel it my duty to point out once more that the position which has been won by the skill, courage, and devotion of our pilots can only be maintained by a liberal suply of the most efficient machines.” • • • * Fuel gas from straw has no small commercial possibilities, according to Professor R. D. McLaurin, of the Department of chemistry of the Saskatchewan University. In a communication to “The Commercial Motor,” the professor says that the matter is of considerable importance to Canada, because on the prairies there is no wood and the price of coal is very high. Again there is a large amount of straw, which simply goes to waste, and every autumn this straw is burnt. In order to deal with this straw, Mr. George Harri-

son, manager of the Saskatchewan Bridge and Iron Company, has invented a retort for carbonising straw and any other cellulose material, thereby decomposing it into combustible gases, tars and ammonia, with a carbon residue. A number of experimental plants have been made, and it is hoped to get them installed on a certain number of farms during the present winter. The uses to which the farmer can put the products of combustion will be for lighting, heating, and power in connection with his farming operations, and also in connection with his household, and he will reap benefits in other ways, in that he will be independent of strikes of miners, and also of transportation difficulties. Each ton of straw produces between 11,000 and 12,000 cubic feet of gas. Taking 7000 cubic feet as the net output from a ton of straw, the heating value of the gas from that quantity of straw would be equivalent to 25 gallons of petrol. From every ton of straw there is obtained between six to eight gallons of tar and ammonical liquors. This tar in its crude state would pay for the cost of putting straw into bales so that the farmer would have his fuel prepared ready for use at the cost of hauling it from the field to his retort. The carbon residue, of which there is about 6001 b. to a ton of straw, would find a sale as lamp black or a ready use as manure. It is estimated that in the western part of Canada only there are 20,000,000 tons of straw available for retorting purposes or the equivalent of 500,000,000 gallons of petrol as regards heat value. If the Canadian farmer can make liquid fuel from straw (which is pressed to such a density that one cubic foot contains 251 b. of straw) then the matter is one of direct- interest in this country.