MOTORING & CYCLING

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1565, 22 April 1920, Page 26

MOTORING & CYCLING

Photographs of private motorists in their cars, snapshots taken while on tour, or accounts of motoring trips and other items of interest to carowners, will be inserted in these columns if posted to “New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review, P.O. Box 52, Auckland.

The provision of motor cars for the convenience of leave men from H.M. S. Renown was approved by the Auckland Automobile Association. The matter was brought before the association by a letter from the President of the Navy League, Mr. A. M. Ferguson, suggesting that the motoring facilities which were provided for the men of the New Zealand should also be extended to those of the Renown. As he was able to assure an adequate benzine supply for the purpose, it was agreed to make arrangements for a service of cars as suggested.

The recent successful production of motor spirit from peat lying in the swamps north of Auckland was discussed at last meeting of the Auckland Automobile Association. lhe secretary (Mr. George W. Hutchison) said the Government had not assisted the investigation in any way. A subcommittee of the association, which had investigated the possibilities or the new production, was strongly of opinion, in view of the large interests that would be served if the industry were successful, that it should receive Government support. The subcommittee’s recommendation to ask the Government to give a subsidy or bonus to encourage the industry was approved.

Easter visitors saw a great deal of flying in Christchurch over the end, as passenger flights from the Sockburn aerodrome were numerous. Captain Dickson was early oyer the city with two passengers, Mr. W. Studholme, of Waimate, and Miss Eleanor Teschemaker. In a nanhour flight the Avro crossed the city, returned by way of Sumner and Lyttelton, where the ferry boat was seen berthing At 5000 feet a very fine view was obtained of Motunau Island to the northward and Lake Ellesmere to the southward, as well as the whole of the southern part of Banks Peninsula. Other fights over Christchurch, Lyttelton and the Port Hills were made during the morning by Mr. W. Richmond, the Hawke’s Bay sportsman, Mr. Luke Wilson, the wellknown racehorse trainer, Mr. C. • Vallance (Wairarapa), and Mr. W. Bush and Mr. R. E. Mills.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Stringer made a flight from Sockburn to Akaroa and back one morning recently. The outward trip was made in twenty minutes, and after five or ten minutes over Akaroa, the return journey was made via Lyttelton, Sumner and New Brighton. A height of 5000 feet was attained on the outward flight.

The rupture which has taken place between the motorists associations in the North and South Islands was discussed at the last meeting of the Auckland Automobile Association, Mr. G. ’Henning presiding. A sub-com-mittee which had investigated the reasons for the formation of the new South Island Motor Union, reported that the conclusion reached was that the South Island association would secede from the New Zealand Automobile Union. It was a matter for regret that the policy of combination of Dominion interests would be abandoned, and while the extra levy this year of £35 was an unexpected and unpleasant surprise, there was no reason why the union could not have been maintained in a somewhat modified form, whereby the affiliated societies could have had an annual meeting for the purpose of discussing matters common to the whole Dominion in the interests of motorists. An attempt should be made to have the New Zealand Automobile Union reorganised on these lines, which would not entail larger contributions than formerly. On the motion of Dr. C. B. Rossiter, seconded by Mr. M. McCallum, the recommendations of the committee were adopted. It was agreed to ask the union for a report upon the situation and for a financial statement.

The Hamilton Motor Cycle Club’s first race meeting was held at Claudelands racecourse on Saturday week. The weather was fine. There was an attendance of about 5000. The course was rather heavy, but, nevertheless, excellent racing resulted, and there were no accidents to mar the day’s pleasure. An aeroplane, piloted by Lieutenant Wood, carried many passengers during the afternoon, including one lady (Miss D. Cooper). The results were: —Novice Handicap (open), five laps.—McGregor (Indian), scr., 1. W. Evans (Big X), ssec., 2; Goodwin (Douglas), lOOsec, 3. Nineteen competed. Won by about 200 yards. Time, 6min. 4sec. Claude-

lands Handicap (open), ten laps.— Coleman (Indian), 1; Sweeney (Indian), 2; Scott (Indian), 3. Eleven competed. Won by about 150 yards. Time, llmin. 12sec. Members’ Handicap, five laps.—Soutdr (Henderson), scr., 1; Blackmore (Indian), 30sec., 2; McCready (Indian), 15sec., 3. Won by a few lengths. Time, 7min. 21sec. Waikato Handicap, 15 laps (about 15 miles). —Coleman (Indian), 40sec., 1; McGregor (Indian), 10sec., 2; Scott (Indian), scr., 3. Eight competed. Won easily. Time, 16min. 38sec. Side-car Handicap, ten laps.—Robinson (Harley-Davidson), 1; Iremonger (Indian), 2; Hastie (Indian), 3. Eight competed. Won easily by a lap and a-half. Time, 15min. 3sec. Light Brigade Handicap, ten laps.—Goodwin (Douglas), 40sec., 1; Peace (Indian), scr., 2; Steel (Wolf), scr., 3. Five competed. Time, 13min. 57sec. Consolation Handicap, five laps.—Bell (Harley-Davidson), 30sec., 1; McCready (Indian), 40sec., 2. Peace (Indian), 90sec., 3. Time, 6min. 25sec. V • » • A membership of 100,290 is now owned by the A.A. and M.U., among which H.R.H. the Prince of Wales recently enrolled.

An enjoyable motor trip from Te Awamutu to Waiotapu, via Putaruru and Rotorua, was made during the Easter holidays by a car load of Te Awamutu residents. The trip was accomplished in fairly good time.

In spite of a strong sou’-wester blowing, two visitors from Oamaru, Mrs. L. H. Kinloch and Mr. S. Clark, made a flight over Christchurch with Captain Dickson in one of the Avro machines, ■which have carried over 1000 passengers since they were put into commission some months ago. During the southern flight in February, more than 500 passengers were given flights.

The By-laws Committee of the Christchurch City Council has lately given the question of parking motor cars in the streets careful consideration. A sub-committee was set up to carry out experiments with a view to ascertaining which method of standing cars would be most economical and render the least inconvenience and danger to other traffic. The committee also recommended that the following provisions should be incorporated in the regulations: — (1) That the council will not be liable for damage or theft; (2) that no car is to be left in such a position as to block free ingress or egress to and from buildings and rights-of-way; (3) that the parking places are only for the use of owners of private motor cars; (4) that cars left at parking places must comply with Section 245 of the “The Christchurch By-law No. 1,” relating to lights on vehicles. Stone pitchers will be placed at each end of the parking places, and notice boards erected showing the number of motor cars that may be parked between any two sets of stones. Provision is made for the parking of approximately 1000 cars. The report was adopted.

Wear and tear on the Wairarapa roads through the increase in motor traffic is such that the controlling authorities are alarmed at the prospect of continued deterioration. County councillors, at a recent meeting at Carterton were unanimous in their opinion, reports the “News,” that the time was soon coming when the Wairarapa South county would have to go in for a big loan proposal for the making of concrete or other substantial roads.

The Prime Minister, Mr. W. F. Massey, stated in Wellington last week that he had been advised by the Board of Trade that there was now in hand and to arrive sufficient benzine to satisfy normal requirements up to the end of July. The stocks available for distribution would be evenly spread over all the districts so that it was not anticipated that any district would suffer a shortage while other districts had enough and to spare. Consequently it had been decided to suspend the operations of the several sub-com-mittees appointed in the various centres by the Board of Trade to deal with distribution to consumers, and consumers would now be able to obtain their supplies through the usual channels of business, as the necessity for rationing had ceased. This satisfactory position had been brought about by co-operation between importing companies and the Board of Trade in securing supplies and arranging freights.

The Marshland-Mairehau Cycling and Athletic Club (Christchurch) held its seventh series of road races recently. The course was twice round the Hawken road, Hill’s road, Shirley road, and Marshland road block. Twenty competitors started, and the event was keenly contested. The following were the principal results: —J. Coulter, 3min. 45sec. (riding time 43min. 58sec). 1; H. W. Birch, 3min. (43min. 14sec.), 2; H. Faulkner, 4min. 30sec. (44min. 46sec), 3; E. K. Binstead, 3min. 45sec. (44 min. 2sec.), 4; A. Schimanski, 9min. (49min. 20sec.), and T. L. Chisholm, 4min. 45sec (45min. ssec.), equal 5; W. Hill, 4min. 45sec, (45min. 35sec.), 7; and H. Feltham, 7min. 15sec. (48 min. 6sec.), 8. The fastest time was made by A. George, scr., who cut out the distance in 41min. 50sec. It is probable that two more races will complete the season’s events, one on April 17th, and the other a fortnight later. It is intended to make the last a longer race than usual, with more substantial prizes. The five leading competitors for the club championship gold medal are: —H. Faulkner 40 points, P. Hill 31 points, R. H. Ritchie and J. Coulter each 25 points, and H. Birch 24 points.

At the last meeting of the Napier County Council, Mr. T. Mason Chambers, speaking on the subject of motor lorry licenses, said that what motor lorry owners had to pay for licenses was an unfair tax on industry, and it would be better if it were repealed to the extent of making the license a nominal one. The lorries were doing very little more damage to the roads than the great number of horse lorries that they had replaced. What was now being placed on the lorries by the council was being passed on to the ratepayers. It was only fair to tax every vehicle on the road, and he did not see why they should discriminate between motor and teamster vehicles. He . proposed to give notice of motion that the license fees of motor lorries be reduced to a point that would be fair. Mr. W. Kinross White considered that the motor lorry owners would not reduce their prices if the county reduced the license fees. Mr. H. A. Russell said that they were going to give away £BO0 —what they were now receiving for licenses. That would take a good deal of making up. It was quite wrong that everyone should run over the roads for nothing.

Mr. and Mrs. Janies Smith, Wanganui, have just returned from a motoring tour through the South Island.

General Nagaoka, head of the Japanese aviation service, recently arrived at New York to study American flying methods.

There are 413 women motor drivers employed by the Army and 889 women employed in Army mechanical transport depots.

Captain Matthews, who is flying to Australia in a Sopwith machine, interviewed at Bangkok, said the crossing of the mountains on the Siam frontier was no joy ride. It was the worst bit of flying he has done so far.

A motor car, travelling to Napier with a bridal couple, went over a bank on Wharerata Hill in a fog at night. The bridegroom sustained a dislocated hip, and was conveyed to the Wairoa Hospital. The driver fractured a rib. The car rolled over several times and fell 50 feet.

When the King was inspecting the veteran war motor omnibus at Buckingham Palace, he remarked that it was the first time he had been in an omnibus, though he had previously ridden in a tramway car. His Majesty was no doubt referring to when, as Prince of Wales, he rode to Tooting in London’s first electric tramway car, on May 15, 1903, when he inaugurated the system.

A motor cycle caught fire when the rider was going along Clyde Street, Invercargill, one evening recently, and damage amounting to £2O was done. The rider ascribed the cause of the outbreak to the leakage of petrol from the priming tap, probably loosened by contact with the rider’s knee. The brigade was called out, but before it arrived the damage had been done.

Mr. Henry Ford and his son, Edsel, announce that approximately £2,000,000 will be distributed in bonuses to the workpeople of the Ford Motor Co., and an opportunity will be offered to each employee to purchase Ford investment certificates. The plan will affect 94,000 employees in various Ford concerns in the United States, but will not apply in foreign workshops.

A protest from the Auckland Taxi Owners’ Association against the proposed tyre tax in lieu of a motor car tax as being unfair to taxi drivers, was received at the meeting of the Auckland Automobile Association. It was agreed to inform the. Taxi Owners’ Association that the policy of a tyre tax having been adopted by a representative conference in Wellington and already placed before the Government, it would be injudicious to reopen the question.

Some time ago the Wellington City Council put in a siding at Clyde Quay to park cars instead of leaving them standing at the foot of Kent Terrace. It was stated at the last meeting of the Town Planning Association that, while occasional cars were put into the siding, it was still a common sight to see two or three cars blocking the way at the foot of Kent Terrace as before. 'lt was also mentioned that the policeman who had been stationed at the intersection of Kent Terrace and Courtenay Place had been removed after a few days, and that the matter of traffic control was quite neglected in that locality.

A defendant at the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court, who was charged with leaving his car standing in the street at night, pleaded that the lights were burning all right when he left the car, and that they must have been put out by some small boys. The Magistrate, in inflicting the usual penalty, remarked that when people left their cars and they were found without lights, they would have to bear the consequences, but if the boys were caught they would be dealt with.

Mr. H. Hector Bolitho, who has written several travel books on New Zealand, recently journeyed over the Motu-Opotiki road, and is enthusiastic in his appreciation of its beauties. “The dominant note of this road,” he says “is the magnitude of everything. The hills are bold in their formation and the valleys are girded by sheer cliffs with drops of over a thousand feet. The trees are enormous and the various panoramas from hill tops suggest the most titanic achievements which nature has given us. We people in Auckland are unaware of your great asset. I only hope that either the Tourist Department or your own local bodies will lift the ro’ad from igmoniny and give it the publicity it deserves. I have been through the Wairarapa and Taranaki and have been impressed by their commmercial success. The town of Wanganui with its beautiful river would please any lover of scenery and town planning, but this grand unbroken primal forest covering those mountains and deep silent valleys excites a thinking man to awe. This is one of the grandest things we have in the island, and it will some day enjoy the fame of the Buller Gorge in the south. Here are the primitive forest and the unexplored valleys; the grandest trees and the most delightful glimpses of distant sea all brought

within our reach by one well formed road which runs through the heart of this beautiful country.”