MOTOR-CAR OUTING.

Progress, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 March 1906, Page 109

MOTOR-CAR OUTING.

Several Wellington gentlemen had a very successful motor-car trip to Palmerston North and back, on the gth and ioth ulto. The party, numbering eleven, were carried by three cars under the guiding hands of Mr. A. de B. Brandon, who drove an Argyll, and Messrs. Meadows and Matthews, who each drove a Cadillac. The journey up on the Friday was particularly enjoyable, the weather being fine, though dull, and the roads were in good order. Those who had not previously crossed the Paekakariki hill were astonished and delighted at the magnificent panorama of sea and coast line which suddenly opens out on reaching the top. The many pieces of flat, straight road met with subsequently were bowled over at a good

rate of speed, with the exhilarating eftect known only to the motorist — result, everyone arrived in high spirits. Though there was heavy downpour in Palmerston on Friday night the return journey on Saturday was commenced with a clearing sky, and every prospect of good weather. After leaving Palmerston the roads were quite dry, showing that the previous night's ram was not general. The weather continued fine until some mijes past Otaki ; indeed, at Levin the cars left in clouds of dust. Before reaching Paraparaumu very dirty weather -was run into, and, thereafter, it became gradually worse. There were, of course, some of the mishaps inseparable from such a trip. The most serious was a bad puncture which befell one of Mr. Meadow's tyres when descending the Paekakariki hill on the return journey. It was pitch dark and raining heavily, and the damage was repaired under trying conditions. The cars, however, all arrived safely, and even the unpleasant termination of the trip was enjoyed as an " experience." Incidents of the trip are shown in our illustrations ; that entitled " halt by the wayside " being a snapshot of some of the party gathered round a car whilst a small repair was being effected on the trip to Palmerston.

Early in 1905, a powerful motor steam fire engine of, Messrs. Merry weather and Sons' "Fire King" pattern was supplied to the London Fire Brigade. This machine has done good service, and the London County Council has just placed an order for a second one with the same firm. Solid rubber tyres will be fitted, those on the rear wheels being of the twin pattern, to prevent side slip. Compared with motor engines of German and other foreign make this machine shows the decided superiority of British engineering skill. A German motor engine just put into service in a Continental city has a pumping capacity of 220 gallons per minute against the " Fire King's " 500 gallons, while its weight is about the same — just over four tons. The speed of the German engine is twelve miles and a-half per hour, against the English twenty to thirty miles, and, while the latter will carry two officers and six firemen, as well as 1000 ft. of hose and all appliances for working, the German engine has to have a separate tender for the transport of the firemen and equipment. Other British towns which have recently ordered motor engines are Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Aberdare, and Grimsby.

According to the Sydney " Bulletin " the latest development of the automobile is the "Turret Car", an armoured fighting machine carrying a field piece and capable of travelling 25 miles an hour. The gun is mounted on a revolving turret, and the drivers and crew are under cover of |-mch pressed steel shields with curving edges. The machine has been submitted to very severe tests over ploughed fields and across broken country, on rough roads and grass land, and averaged a speed of 25 miles an hour. It

can take guns wherever horses can, and at three times the speed, and as long as fuel lasts, without growing tired as the animal does. It has all the advantages of the armoured train without its fatal drawback, the limitation to rails that can be torn up. The car can go anywhere, and manoeuvre as desired, and it brings to land warfare all the excitement of sea fighting. Cavalry can only go till the horses are worn out ; a force of fighting cars can raid mdefinately as long as fuel lasts. The men can sleep or at least rest, while rushing at 25 miles an hour to another spot to strike a fresh blow.