THE MOTOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1413, 13 April 1912, Page 13

THE MOTOR.

(By AuphiusO Horso Cabs Prohibited. It's coming! Horse-drawu cabs aro to be no longer permitted to ply for lure m tho streets of Berlin from tlie beginning of this month. Each of the sixty licensed drivers affected by this new regulation will receive £30 as compensation for disturbance, and a spceiafly favourable consideration will be shown to their applications for licenses to drive motor-cabs. To Cheek Joy-riding. An ingenious device intended to check joy-riding, or unauthorised using of cars by chauffeurs, is now being patented in America. The device consists of a copper plate, which may be fastened to any prominent part of tlio car where it will be visible. On tho plato is a hinged metal *!isc, the hinge being bolted to the middle of the plato in a substantial manlier. When tho owner or his autfiqrised agent is in charge of the car, the disc is turned down and locked in placo with a staple and spring padlock, in this position the disc shows a black enamelled circle. AVhcn the owner is through with tho car and wishes to have nobody use it, ho unlocks tho padlock, turns up the disc until it lies flatly against tho plate, and locks it again through another staple at the top of the plate. In this position tho plate shows two bright red discs. The plan is to notifv the police or others who aro engaged in preserving tho peace that there is always something wrong when a car appears on the street with two red discs snowing.

Motor Cycle Tests at Home. Tlio "tourist trophy" motor cycle races —tho premier events of their kind in the world—will again be held in the Islo oi Man this year, the dates being Juno 28 for tho small-powered or junior rage, whilst the senior or high-powered event will be decided on July 1. Tho event is being organised by the Auto-Club Union of England. It was in this event last veai- that tho English and American' cracks, Collier arid Do Rosier, met for the first time, and although neither won, the Englishman performed better than the American champion. Motoring from Perth to Sydney. Francis Birtles, tho well-known Australian over-landing cyclist, looks like again making good, this time in a n»ir reje. After his recent successful attempt on tho Freiuantle to Sydney cycle record —which he reduced by no less than 5 days 9 hours, Birtles stated that ho was confident that ho could pilot n car across an overland route from the west to east of Australia. Such a motor feat had never previously even been attempted, ii being tliought amongst motorists that such a ride was impracticable, owing to heavy sandy stretches and boggy dried-up lake beds to Ixj negotiated between Norseman, in West Australia, and Eucla, the repenting telegraph station on the border line between West and South Australia. A little more than six weeks ago Birtles announced that the trip was possible: today the feat is practically accomplished. Birtles and Mr. S. Ferguson, of the Canada Cycle and Motor Company, Sydney, left by steamer for Freimintlo in March, taking with them a Duiilop-shod 10-li.p. Brush runabout, on which to mako the attempt. On Saturday, Mareli 1.1, Messrs. liirtles and Ferguson left the Perth Post Office at 1 p.m. for Sydney. Southern Cross was reached on Monday afternoon, and Coolgardie (Hal miles) at -I p.m. oil Wednesday, Mareli -0. Reports next caino to liand stating that the iiarly had reached the lialladonia Overland Telegraph Station (south of Kraser's Range), alter considerable difficulty in crossing the dried-up lake beds between Norseman and Ballailunia. and on several ueeaMons considerable trouble and delay was entailed extricating the ear. The next stage, across Kvre's Sand-patch am! Hampton Ifange. would, it was anticipated, give great trouble, liul liirllrs nud liis companion have pulled through. Tor they wired on .Mareli 28: "Arrived lliirla: got over long stage siirces-liilly; Ihnu-and miles, mi Ivre Irnulilo; I ruining heavily." Although some ver.v heavy ami rough eountrv has yet In lie negotiated aero.-s the N'uilaber Plains lo I'orl Augusta. there is now every chance <if the lir-l atloninl I" motor across Australia from we-t In east terminaling siie-ees.-full.v. for ill Sr-plember last year member? of the Tr.mf onl incntal Ifnilwav niwiulnsion nio|or<Ml within TO or 50 , «U«a ul tow tlio Adgkidg lida,