MOTORS AND MOTORING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2149, 15 May 1914, Page 11

MOTORS AND MOTORING.

[By Clutch.]

Car Insurance Tariff. The present insuranco tariff for cars has been the subject of iin estimation by tho Auckland Automobile Association. The rates are generally considered to lie prohibitive, and a committee was sot up to go into tho wholo question. Tho report of the committee indicated tliat if anything was to be done it would bo, necessary to form a new insuranco company with a paid-up capital of £50,000. The question was raised, however, as to whether such a company, if formed, would bo able to do business on a better tariff. The committee was asked to continue its investigations, and it is now considering another scheme whereby motorists may gain cheaper insurance. Itis stated that tho English policies-are more favourable to motorists than those of the Dominion. Jlotorists here say that tho complaints of the insurance Companies, that there is no margin in the motor-car business, would bo removed if the tariff was lowered, and a larger number thus induced to insure their cars. Many car-owners are determined not to insure until tho rates aro lowered. . Hutt County Roads. It will bo of interest to local motorists to learn that tho inspector of works-to the Hutt County Council is making every effort to push ahead the work of metalling the various roads of the Hutt County. The work has not gono 'on quite so rapidly as tho inspector would like, through the inability to get horses and drays in some localities. The council's grader was sent to Whitenian's Valley on May 7, and it is intended to work down the valley as far as Wallaceville. Two new pipe culverts have been put in on Wairiri Road, in tho Epuni Hiding. This road has been metalled for a good distance. The engineer also states that five now acetylene lamps have been ordered and sent to Plinimerton, to be erected at most suitable places. Lights on Country Roads. Tho Wairanipa Automobile Association lias received a letter' from the Superintendent of l'olice, in,regard to complaints made by {he former about vehicles being used on country roads at night without lights, stating that he has made a recommendation to have a statutory law added to the I'olico Offences Act, requiring all vehicles to be provided with lights when being used.on any public roads at night. The Superintendent mentioned that at present this matter is left- to the respective local bodies, with tho result that by-laws vary in each locality, some- bylaws being'little or no use. On tho West Coast. The motor is coming in to its own on the AVest Coast. A correspondent at Westport states that there are now 23 cars and 23 motor-cycles registered in Buller County. Messrs. Newman Bros, have taken off their coaches altogether from the Westport run during the lass vicar, and now run a motor service puro and simple from Glenhope to Westport. Mr. Sunderland runs a motor service from ileefton to Westporl, .and there is also a motor-car on tho run from AVestport to the one-timo flourishing city ol Charleston—now mustering only a hundred or so inhabitants. An interesting development is the appearance of a motor-lorry, owned by Mr. Samuels, of \Vcstport." With this a regular goods service is run from AVestport to Murclirson, and between Murchison and tho Nelson railway terminus at Glenhope. Tho car has wily been running for three months, and so far is understood to ha'c been most successful. It lias certainly been received with dpen arms by tho settlers. Freight rates have been very considerably reduced, and the

charge from Westport to liiaiigahua Junction, for instance, is now 355. per ten, as against the £2 10s. per ton charged for 'haulage, by horse "teams. ■ . The lipht car has also made its appearance in Westport. Messrs. M'Onicr and Go., tlie well-known drapery firm, hue lately.'purchased a Perry, and use it for business trips lip as for as Murchison, about sixty miles distant up the-Buller. They "state that tho car b "-0 far proving highly satisfactory. Tho Woslport Motor Cycling Club is an active organisation, and holds fre- . qiient runs, hill-climbing competitions on the Charleston Road, etc. Tho club has now between twenty and thirty members. Last Sunday it hold a successful run out to Mokiliimii, thirty odd miles north from town. Tlio road through from Nelson to ■\Vestport is in generally excellent condition. The last six milos from tho Nine Mile punt on the Buller into Westport has just , been under repair, and is consequently rather rough. • It can, however- bo-avoided by'runniiis down 1 tho Loriplino Road and crossing the river l>v tho town bridge. Visiting motorists who contemplate making the run through tho Buller in the near future should nofe that that otherwise' generally reliable publication the "South Island Motorists' Road Guide" is sadlv astray in somo of its distances on this road. It gives tho distance from Murchison to Lyell, for

instance, as 14 miles, whereas it is m reality between 21 aiid 22—and a 22 miles tint needs decidedly cautious driving. Tho distances between Inangahua Junction and Westport are also out, though to a less extent. There is no hotel" at Blacltwater as stated, but there is one at Berlin's and another at the Twelve Mile, neither of which receives mention. ■ Tho roads in tho Buller seem to be rougher on springs th-in anything else. One"well-known.,motorist states that he has not a single original leaf left, in any of his springs, and is continually putting in now leaves. The surface of the roads is solid, but is apt to bo lumpy in places, and there are many steep undulations and sharp .curves. There- is no water that gives trouble in fine weather, but many of the streams look a.s though they might onsily become a nuisance afjor heavy rain. Potato Petrol. Tho Alcohol Motor Fuel Committee, which was appointed by the Imperial Motor Transport Council to inquire into Uio tiuostion of using alcohol us a stilisfituti! for petrol, states in a preliminary report:—"Coal-tar products have been proposed as substitutes for petrol, and there is no doubt as to their suitability. It does'not appear justifiable to assume that substitutes of this kind will become available in sufficient quantities to afford any complete solution of the problem. If this be so, we aro compelled to turn to alcohol a,s the only possible cFcape from the present diflioullios. In view of the importance of rendering the British Empire independent of fuel snpplirs from foreign countries, it should be noted that crops from which .alcohol can .be obtained uiiuht v> cultivated with groat benefit to the agricultural community in many — parts of the Empire. It is suggested thiil. prizes might he offered for new methods of manufacture of methyl alcohol, the synthetic production of pyridine-, or for other contributions lo the solution of tho question. Alcohol call now be obtained from, among olbot source:;, potatoes, beetroot, grnin, peat, wood pulp, sawdust, molasses."

A Petrol-Electric Road Train, News conies to liaiul from Vionn.i of some trials that aro beinj; carried out, by n lar.no brewery ronipitny in .1 lint. fity in noniuiirliou with {.lip Austrian War Oflicc, witli a npiv polrol-oirrlrin rnnd • train, wbicli comnrifps a nnnilipr of special features. The. train consists

altogether of six vehicles, which cannot ho described in the usual way as a tractor and trailers, for the first vehicle ' ! consists of practically a self-moving, | , power-generating plant. His Etta! j , with an Austrian-Daimler petrol en- ] ' Kino of no less than iflO-b.p., dynamo, , ami transmission. Although the fol- j lowin<! vehicles aro not hauled, they f are connected to the first vehicle, and to each other by drairbars in tlie usual way. Kach of'the followers is provitl- ; ed with an electric motor geared to. the ' road wheels, the necessary current ; being supplied from the power plant in- ' stalled on the funvard machine l . The. ' ; train is designed for a total load oi 80 j tons. ■ . , A Breakdown War wagon. ' For tho Spanish War Office, Messrs. , Ben»'s Gaftgouau branch has produced . some interesting types of vehicics, . amongst them a Ba{vage«kirry for pre» • venting any transport \v:ip;o»s llini/lmyc 1 met with mishap from falling into the hands (if the enemy. The defective Automobile is hauled up hy motor and *"inch aucney, over twisl-ineliiie'J planes, on to the flooring ef the salvage lorry, the said planes, which arc, some 20in, . in width, being also designed as sides of the salvage lorry. A rear flap attached to the latter Wipe to keep Hie rescued automobile in position. Tho chassis represents tho Ifonz-G&ggcuaii standard type in all fraftiralars except tho radiator, which is of unusual siae. Tho ongine is a four-cyKiuk'r one, developing 50-h.p. The whceHmse. is.' of course, oxxoptionally lohr, in order to accommodate the extensive platform body. Cyclists and Motorists, The grievances of cyelists against motorists were discussed at a meeting of tlie Cyclists' Touring Club at London recently, when a resolution, was moved which stated that "the speed generally at which motors aro mow driven upon tho-highways is incompatible with, the comfort and safety of tlie public." What was wanted, said tho mover, was the setting up of a central body under Government to supervise tints' sp«id q-ucs-' tion generally, as well as read .construction and tho methods of regulating traffic. Mr. Spencer Hill, in seconding, said that the present penalties inflicted on motorists for exceeding ' the speed limit we.ro entirely Inadequate. An amendment was moved by Mr. W. N. Blakolcy and carried, which eojifinod tho resolution to the demand for a Government road traffic department. His point was that the foal danger to the cyclist is caused not so much by the speed of pleasure motor-ears as by tlso huge railway and commercial motors now coming upon the roads These vehicles treated tho cyclist most inconsiderately. "Huge wild ttskge of this type," ho said, "should not he allowed to go into our pretty rural roads, which now aro the only places left for the cyclist." Theso ponderous vehicles' Were j breaking up the roads, and there should I be a Government DepjiTtttwmt to regn- j late them, as well fl-s supervise all the questions connected with the use of the j roads. An old cyclist gave an amusing description of an accident wiieu Ire-was run down by a motor. "The bicycle: leaped over tho motor," ho said, "and I leaped over the bicyde. i was not" killed, hut 1 didn't like* it at a!!. The people in tho car were most polite, and insisted upon taking me to a hospital, where I didn't wnnt to go. They explained that the motor was being drjfcn by a pupil, who was drunk at the time." ■ Motor Doath Toll in Mew .York, . Automobiles killed 302 persons in New York City during 1913, according to ! figures compiled by tlie National.Highways Protective Association, of New] York . City. During 1912 Automobiles '[ killed 221, according to tho assoeia- ' tion's figures, whichliavo »roua)d thoir! usual, transient ula.rm. Figur-Cis o£' ' deaths by •trolley and wagon during ■ last year are 108 unci 170, iMpeetiyeljf.; The association's -tabic of fatal acddents attributed to tho 'threo classes ■ of vehicles the past £eui" years is as follow:— 1010. ISU. 1912. 1913. Automobiles ... 112 142 l>2l 3U2 Trolley ,-.... 148 IQ9 18-1. 108 Wagon Sll 172 177 170 It will bo seen that while the deaths by trolley and wngo-u are tlucluating within comparatively narrow limits, deaths by* automobile are iirei-essimj. This fact'eau be robbed 0-1' wiich u|!|)iuent alarming signification by considering i that while, tho,number isf trclhys in use is increasing very slowly; if at- nil, ami , tho number of'horse -ffagans is dccrM. , ;- ing, automobiles -are cum-iiumlly ttsiiktisg i material 'increases in the tutuiber in use. i Mniiy of the accidents aro to children * playing in tho st-cct. During January r of "the 28 killed, It!, or. nearly- -10 per 3 cent., wore' children undo- 17.

Hints, Tins, and Queries. ; "W. 1 ,." writes stating that ho has had similar troublo with tho tsirhnrcttw on his light car U> that described by Slj'. Lawrence in this cokmn last week. "I found," ho says, "that wliOH .1 oiientel up the throttlo to a cevtaiu point—apparently just between the pilot jet aim tli3 main jet—tho car skciwd otE. If I left the throttle in this position, the engine almost immediately picked up sjreed again. I find, however, that it. is only necessary to pass just to the other side of this point (and not to open full tip) in or'lor to avoid tho staggering of tho cnirine. described lw Mr. Lo.w«nce, If the spark is retarded fof an instant, and then advanced again, I think Mr. Lawrence will find that tli© 'stagger can also be overcome hi this way also." ' It is a pity that so many makers still send out their cars with the joints in the steering rods iiniwotc*ted. Jt is always well worth while' to enensp. those joints I in leather easiness, which can he readily j made and laced on. If the.Joints uro i •simply oiled and left osposed they become covered in grit, and wear in tile ' pins soon results. Nothing is wareannoying on nil otherwise qniot ear than a rattle, of loose stporins rftds on a humpy hit of road. Tho knthfr cftvm for the joints should be paclcod _ villi grease and examined at not too itsiVo(jiipnt intervals. The hest wav to elertn mii'a windows in hoods, which frcnucntly brarnio u»plcasantly dirty, is to dnrnp them with vinegar and then wash it off with cold water. "l'\N." wishes to know how nnteh piny it is , a rcasoaatila tiling to allow in a steering whorl. His ptoarinfj wlieel can be moved about h fifth of its circle hnforo tho road wltpels beain to resnond. Some of his friends hdvo advised him to have this taken up: others to leave .it aloiiiv— "I'\N." should have the storing wbcel atteudrd t*i as ponn as passible. The wlipel is rtniicornns if it lias h ilirn in it. He should Inivi; as little A:>c)i as possible, ivliile tho wliool should only move half an inch at (lie rae.it in Use circle.

Hera an'J Th»re. In tlie toll of street ai'ci.ilonis, tlie puroontiigo oi HiiWrcii Wim, ii; most cases, lo?e tliwr iivps through failing tn lined tlie possibilities of iniflio, has mot with dii(> MnsicWsniioji ai tlie lianils of ninny nMtliorttics, and various educational bodies linvo umod tlieir tcncliers to iiislntct (licit- scholars in tlio nmttcr of tvaflii' da liters, llowovni' good :i tea-lior mn.y lip, the best object Insson for a cliili] is ri:''nallv tfl KPf< lunv swell nci:i(k-i:iS sire lirmigbl. iib'oiit. Tim Vitacraph C'o. liavo recently iutroduced isito the Old

Coii'ilr,v.■'■■if : ,very striking' I 'film cnltiled "Tho t'iiu-*>"?)t Tlmiiirhtlcsam'ss," ivbioli will liii spimi at iiinn.v picture psilnceii before long.'...With Uw nid ol' n patlirl.ii: little plot, a , .scries of picturra insUincin;: lion - .- , ,'.iwidoiilsViu'c!■ caused through pliiyinj< '" the si roots iiiid by children's tlKiitKhtlo.ssnnsß mmerally, » vw.y useful lesson of ills; necessity of rmilinn,' as regards modem traffic is conveyed. ■When tiro London Motor Museum was I being-visited by llio -public al.-its first I quarters in Oxford Htroot'a ' machine I that attracted great interest was the [ j'nnhard car of 1891, wliipli was kindly lnufc hy its proud owner, llm Abbe (>aj vois. It is a wonderful tribute to this "ancient" that tho only reason why it is not, u- feature , of the present permanent exhibition nt Crystal f*alaoo is that, it lii) 8 gone fiack into active si»rviep !i|.-aiii, iuwi Hip reverend abbe, is again driving his favourite old ear over t'if' roads of -Picardy. Mo knows its reliability and prefers the certainty of its iron-shnd wiinok to. Iho greater comfort and- vulnerability of pneimia-tic-s. Wiion lliis old ear will.eventually wear itself out of active services, no wau can say.

Tllo Imperial Motor Transport Coun-

cil lias issued a memorandum, m the | shape of a preliminary report, isi respect of tin? steps which it is lulling to iiivcstiftnlo Iho problem of alrohol sup]>uly at chuiniercial prices for hkp in tf.alor ,'vehicjos. ■ It Is elaitned, stales "Tlk! Oommorml Motor," that, in the great majority of tlie. Dominions and colonies, alcohol affords th? only feasible relief from abnormally-high prices and shortiißo of .siif>p!ios. What is claimed to Iμ? the smallest side-car outfit in oxistonro has been ii'.acie recently for Master Cowloy ami [Wβ little sister, of Strc-tford 'Road, ; Manchester, hy their fnl.hot , . The. machine is fitted with a Hi.r>. aircooled en,yiiw, and automatic enrUiirottef, whicli is srt tn fun at three miles nor hour. Onlsklc flyvrbwty and ovt-r----liwul valves (nuwmiaiiu inlet) are also features of Ihe liltipiiljan power. v>l:mt, Tiw complete outfit weighs under 3011 i., nnd ;i special police permit: has beo.ii obtained, the youthful riders will i tako short trips on tho open road. r A motorist in Paris has just recently

Ircon lined one franc and posts for usiii'i tm his far a horn, which, it was sHeiypt], emitter) r.otifuls' li!;o "t!ip scj|iP:p]iiiE of a \nR." Tiie follon'inir jioinis canso ovcrhcaliits;: —Too weak valve springs, wcav of vfllvo i-nins, tttfitiots wrongly ndjiisted, vnlvq timiTifi wrong, o> a chot'W cxiwwst, umlor-liibrioatiitH, enrlwn deposit mi, piston hcntl nntl" c.vlinsjer or behind piston• rings, ovcr-dfivine the lnaehiiio on a 'tow Rear, too null n mixtvire csiusofl bv a ton bin jet. -ignition too far advance;! or retarded, tight, piston riniis or lteaviiigs, valve expanding or stspk-

iiiir in its Kiiulc. This sounds a formidah]t! list of points to lir gone over, but if anynno liaviiiii trouble" hi tliis direction, slioitld cnrefully clwfk the points ovor one by oite, they will probably arrive at the faifse of tho tirouWo. Legal lightimr-np 'time f.o-da.v, 4.W p.tti.; next Friday, 4.8? p.m. Birties's Tour. Numormis iel«p;.rams recmiiiting his progress towards tin;, centre of Australia havo been receivod hy Davios and Fehou Motors, Limited, from Mr. Francis Dirties, who, accompanied by Air. Frank Hurley,' on April ]1 loft Sydney oil a IO.IWO iiiilcs tour. Aw.'ortling to Mr. Birtlcs, NyiigiW! was raaclied at It) o'clock on I'uesday inoruiPß, April 14, and Bourke shortly after noon the' nest day. Tlie SO horse-power Kcrd I"!!', wfiicli was landed- with -half ii ton oi camp gear a-iul supplies, averaged !B miles per gallon of fuel. The Qiicpn'ilaiid bowler was crossed on Fri(lb,v, April 17, tiarrigtm being :lef.t be-: hind in the/morning nt 10 o'clock , /-Kit i-oiHo io t'li'arlcviH<?" which was reached on 'l'uesjjny nftcrnoon at 2.20 o'clock, Hie ■ motorists drove withoul, stoppage, Uirongh- 100 miles of sandhill*. Mr. Kittles isses I'ratt's Ked I/abet Hpint.