MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2168, 5 June 1914, Page 11

MOTORS AND MOTORING

[By Clutch.]

Uppsr Hutt-Wajßanae Road. Somo £3000 is needed to completo the Akatarawa Koad and so provide a new route from Wellington to Palmerston and tho Manawatu. A gap oi : three miles has to bo covered and two bridges built across the .Akatarawa Stream. In view of the agitation for the early pushing on of the work, which cannot be done unless another Government giant is forthcoming, it is interesting to compare tho route with that via "o'linsonville and Pnektiknriki. Tho two roads diverge at Ngaliauranga and join again at M'aikanae, and the distance to Waikanae is practically the same by either— 4.*) miles. The advantages of the Akatarawa Koad arc that motorists win ne able to escape- 'the Ngahauraiiga Gorge, the Johnsou'ville Hill, the winding road around Porirua"Harbour, the dangerous corners in tho Horokiwi Valley, and finally tho I'aekakariki Hill. Ily the new route they will havo a clear- run on wide open roads to the Taita, then come tho corners and bends of tho Hutt Gorge, and another clear run to • tho Upper Hutt. Prom the Upper Hutt the road is good until tho Akatarawa Gorge, is reached. The grade in tho gorge is good except for one or two stejpish pinches, but the road is decidedly narrow and awkward for passing. From the sawmill at the end of the present road to' the saddle overlooking Reikiorangi a, grade of 1 in 20 will prevail, as against tho 1 in 10 and 1 in y met with on the Paekakariki Hill. Tho advantage of the new routo will be that all the bends and twists • and hill-climbing will be concentrated in one stretch, instead of being spread out from Ngaliauranga to Paekakariki, and better grades will be obtainable. The road will incidentally pass through the finest pieco of bush remaining near Wellington. Tho portion of tho bush along the route would mako a magnificent scenery reserve if secured while it is still intact.. - . The Rule of the Road. Mr. Justice Hosking's statement in tho Supreme Court last week as to tho rule of the road does not stato tho position as clearly as might be. His Honour was reported to have said: —"Tho rulo did not compel riders and drivers to keep any particular side, but it imposed on tliom a duty to meet or pass any vehicle on a particular side of the road. On crowded streets in a city it was found that people did .ride and drive on particular sides of the road, -because of tho frequency with which they had to meet or pass vehicles or horses, but .on country roads it was very different." This is, of course, a perfectly coiicct statement of the obligations imposed under the Police Offences Act, but His Honour apparently overlooked the faoi that additional obligations aro frequent-, ly imposed by the by-laws of local bodies. In Wellington City, if- tho bylaw holds good, tho position is as follows :— "Any person driving, drawing, or propclliiig ally vehicle, or riding or leading any animal, or ridiug any jbicyclo in any street, private street, 'or public place within the city,, except when crossing for the purpose of setting down goods or passengers or alighting, shall keep as near as practicable to tho footway on the toft or near side of such strcot or public place. . . ." Thus the position is clearly that, so far as tho city is concerned, all traffic must keep consistently to the left of tho street. It is worth noting, also that the by-law imposes, an obligation on persons driving vehicles or '"riding animals or bicycles to allow other drivers or riders overtaking them to pass when desiring:to do so.

The Lighting Tangle. Inference has been made from tirao to time in tin's column to the tangled state of the by-laws'of the various local bodies fixing the time for the lighting of vehicles? In consequence of the representations of tho Wellington Motor Cycling Club, the Assistant City Engineer, Mr. J. M. Morico, wont into the matter, and drew up a report for tho council. Subsequently tho council directed that a now by-law should ho drafted fixing half an hour after sunset as tho time for the lighting of all vehicles.. .This is a reasonable and proper time for lighting up, but it remains to he seen whether the council will be able by by-law to over-ride the clause in the Motor Regulation Act, decreeing that motors shall bo lighted between sunset and ono hour before sunrise. As motor-cycles are included under, the provisions of the Act, tho new by-law presumably cannot apply, to . them, .either. ' Mr. Morics states that in order to ascertain what was a reasonable time to fix for lighting up, ho inquired from tho Electric Lighting Department at what hour tho street lamps were lighted. It appears that no definite timeis fixed, but the engineer in charge every evening at dusk switches on tho lights as soon as objects cannot bo distinguished at a given distance down the street from tho station door.- ,This time during the month of May was found to bo from forty to forty-five mintuos after sunset. . . Motor-cyclists should note that, though the city. by-law fixes the timo for cyclists to light up as one hour after sunset, tho Motor Act, as stated above, puts it at sunset. taranaki's Toll Cates.

An Auckland motorist who recently returned from a run through Taranaki had some experience of the working of toll-gates. Ho said that when tho money collected was spent on tho road nobody objected, and in this connection referred to the picco of road between Eltham and Opunake. Tho minimum toll collected on that run was 2s. (3d., but no motorist ever romplained when asked to pay, because the local authority had put down a tarred macadam road.- It is one of the most delightful motor runs in the Dominion. A motor-. Ist could travel from Hawcra to New Plymouth, via Stratford, tho shortest and best route, and not pass through a toll-gate, but if he desired to travel by the coast route tho minimum tolls amounted to Bs. Tho first gate was sixmiles out of Hawcra, where a minimum feo of 3s: was made up to four passengers, and Is. for every person in excess of that number. Another toll was extracted from the touring motorist at Stonoy River, where us. per car was charged. Light Gar Economy.. There are... over seventy different makes of light ears which can be obtained on tho British market. The London "Times" in a recent article said:—"The idea that in connection with motor-cars the word 'light' is synonymous with 'cheap,' both as regards cost and upkeep, is completely justified in practice; and if a comparison is rondo between tho 20 horse-power vehicle and tho new typo this becomes abundantly clear. Tyres make a very prominent position in tho cost of motoring, and tlio importance of weight in this respect is very marked. Of the two cars, ono weighs approximately threo times as much as tlie other, and hence there is immediately an immense reduction in favour of the light car. The pricp of tho largo vehicle- in tho first place will be up to £700; of the'small £200. Depreciation over 10,000 miles can lie taken as £60 against 1200 over tho same distance. A sot of tyres costs £15 or less against £50; petrol and oil, £14 against £50;. insurance, £6 against £20. Other expenses are in a similar proportion and make a total nf 2d. per. mile'agaiust Td. The true scope of the

light car is less than the large, but for 5U per cent, of running of the latter tli*> former does the work equally well." The Morris-Oxford, one of the most popular of the 10 h.p. fwri--cytin(ler machines, has now had a thonjuali trying out under New Zealand conaftwns, and, as hi Jiritain, is earning an cx'ce!lent name for itself. The local agents, Cycle and Motor Supplies, Ltd., report liaving placed a largo number of these machines. 'A new light car to appear in Wellington shortly will be tlic'Lagofiik, a. neat little 11 h.p. car .with a cabriolet body, for which Messrs. Magnus. Sanderson and Co. have secured the a'geitcy. The same firm have now oa hand ail interesting little Garden monoeavr, As eviidenco of tbojiilk-linabiilg capacities of the light car, it may be- mentioncd that an 8 h.p. Ardett'tlie other day rail -ii]> Majoribanks Street to Austin Street on top gsar, a remarkable performance. Local Motor Statistics. Everyone, notices tho wida diversity of_ makes of motors hi tho streets of Wellington, but it wiill coma as a surprise to most people ta learn that the city registrations for the- year eroding on March 31 last included, "swenty different makes of car. The popular 'fancy in motor, cycles is just as varied, for fewer than 85' different brands were recorded in tho registrations for tlift same twelve months. Two years ago the city had 22 taricabs oh the register. Now thero are '75. In two years the tiumbevr of motor lorries in Wellington has increased from four to 30. Municipal Motor Fleet. By tho end of tho present year tho Wellington City Council will possess a licet of. 17 motor vehicles and four motor cycles. The Fire Brigade has six (ire motors and a motor-cycle with lire .equipment; the ! Tramways Departinent has two motor .tower wagons; tho Electric Lighting Department a tower wagon and three motor oyeles. Then thoro is the City Engineer's 10 h.p. Austin and the 9 h.p. Renault used »s a pay car. The motors oft order include three motor buses for the. tram* ways, and a one-ton Albian for tho Electric Lighting' Department. lenders are also .being called for two electric, vehicles. . - s Motor-Cycling Notes. The Wellington Motor Cycling Club will be.represented at the Palnierststi North motor-cycling conference to-mor-row evening by Messrs. 0. D. Bridge (club captain), L. M, Liai'deo (secretary), and C. A. Lawrence. Although the movement for tho formation of a North Island . Auto-Cydo Union originated with the Wellington Club, it is understood that that'club's delegates to the conference will not press for the selection of Weliragtoi-i as headquarters for the A.C.U. The other clubs, so far as is fciwsfn, nw understood to favour tho ostabli..A-B'.eiit cf headquarters at Palmers-toil. North,

Tho deleKatcs to tho to-Mftrcnco will be entertained at a 'dinner by tho' ManaH'atn Club on Saturday <rvpning. A fixcd-fimr rolialnlity trial was. held hv the "Wellington Club ow Wednesday afternoon. The course included; all th.e most difficult hills aroaud the city, fin-> ishiiip; up at Orangi-Kaupapa Hoad, which is'as strenuous a eliteb as' eofltd be found anywhere. There we.ro eight entrants riding machines frsfa tb© SJh.p. 'to.the .f.-SAfp- Indian,.. Only two riders finished/, V. feTit-heflanfL •and G. AVatt,: both riding. Triumplts, the? former rider winning on time. In tho spged trials' at'' Ifatai Bead, Miramar, on Wednesttay jHQriiing, in , connection with the Sutherland and Rankino Cup,' ' somS" qxeiting fiaisheS were witnessed. The winners were: Tomliuo (3}-h.p. MatclrJoss., twin), t). George (7-9-h.p. Indian), and Jacisou (3{-h.p. Triumph). The secretary of tho WdlingMin Qlith has written to the Railway Pepartment,' asking that tho'piers on the railway viaduct over the Hutt jfeitj should, he painted, so as to bo deafly distiiiguis.h-. able on dark niglits, which is far from, being the caso at present. The Commercial Motor in Britain.. Coincident with statistics showing steady growth in mot.Qr*h«s t-raißs in London arc published' others that s-hw very slow increase in: England in- commercial motor traffic.,, independent of tic bus typo. Lord Slontaguf, the wellknown authority, who is editor of tho "Car," recontly, said that the British, census shows that only ISMGO commercial vehicles driven by motors ate now registered in tho LWtcsi ".Kingdoms, these figures compare with 22* r 907 pleasure cars and 179,926 motor cycles. Lard Montague believes, however, that the figures for commercial motors will soon materially increase. The factories ■ tbftt build them "now have more orders than they can fill for some .time," and a tendency is growing everywhere in the Kingdom to discard horse-vehicles in favour of motors and to ma the rail* ways less for freight and motor4recks more. Other 'interesting point's brought out by Lord Moiitagftß in his statement, which appears.in the, Manchester "Guardian," are those:

"There has recently bceil a groat improvement in tho surface- of tho reads, thus lessening in every way the costs of motor-hauling, while tho types, of all, classes of motor vehicles for commercial purposes have been improved. A company in London is said to convey passengers now at cheaper rates than tho local electric traiiriynys, while nowadays it is found to be as cheap to carry gondii or passengers for distances up to 100 miles by road as by rail, or cheaper. "There is also ail ihjporta : 'ttt | saving in the reduced number of handlings awl haulages between tile places of origin and destination. For instance: — "Hail transport-.-*-From wholesale warehouse or shop by van and road to the railway station: from tho railway station by rail to the station of destination ; from the stntbn by van mid road to tho local retailer; frerm the local retailor by cart and road to the customer. "Total: Eight handlings, four haulages. "lload transport.—From the waiehouso by motor-van to retailer; fi'oxn the local retailer by cart and road to tho customer. "Total: Four handlings, two haulages. . - "Cotton can now he taken in lorries from the docks in. Manchester directly to the spinningvaiills, thence to the weaving-mills, _thence to tho bleaohilil.p, dyeing, printing-mi lis, etc., tmtil , it goes back eventually to another ship as the finished prodwt, never having once been on tho railway. A miffiher of handlings have been saved and much waste of time, thus materially lessoning the costs of mrtitufacture. Lord Montague expresses ft.o tinfef that-in a few years' time tlie tonnage of goods conveyed by motor-vehieles ftttd by rOild will far exceed that ef gocids enrried by rail." Hints and Tips. The con?ider,ii:.e meto'i'-driver Vvill make it a precept of his driving to give cyclists as wide a, berth as possible. Many car drivers have I*o knowiedep *rf cycling and do not approdato the effect upon a cyclist of tho rapid paesjnej of a car at close quarters, ivnf do they realise how easily a very slight sweryo by the cyclist may caoso ii load aceklent. Tho cyclist is always.for«ed to. tlie slope at the side of the fead and with su'r-

faces wet and urcasyi as they ;iro at present, is entitled to consideration iroiii motorists. The tyro pitmp is sn item, which deserves oeta-skmal .'usneetion,. as when it, is reqairwl it Is often badly wanted. Tile pump is ayit to lie neglected in the tool box so that its tube becomes chafed, or, again, tho tube may feivo become unscrewed, with the result that the screw threads arc- damaged. If neglected tJit? leather bucket which forms the piston oi the pump becomes had and the tubing perislies; the. latter k also apt let blow <;tf the roiineo timis. The ivis'e iiiuu, Uierefiire, examines the- tyre pump once a month or

The difficulty in getting a reasonable price foil- an old not is much lessened if it has u- well-kept appearance. Ptfrehasers naturally argue that if the outside shows neglect, the mechanism will be even more neglected. A bent and damaged mudguard, a crumpled lamp, a email and wiijnpartant fitting which fens become fractured and,not replaced nre nil fraught- with suspicion in the would-be purchaser's mind, and detract more than their fae-e value from the ear's price. After cleaning a glass eil sight tube it should bo immersed in clean paraffin which will-prevent a film of oil adhering to it for quite a long time. Yoke, ends (sometimes "termed "itonble. oyes") on brake and control rods alien * cause an annoying rattle, This may hi) stopped, if they- bo much worn, by a thift brass of tin-washer k the yoke. Petrol is a solvent of rubber,' oils, varnishes, enamels, b-ttt two connnoa substances that resist its action are soap and glue. Petrol unions at tanks and carburetters hold better and do not need pulling wp so tightly if the. coned surfaces and threads aro siraearofl with a little soap.-

Here and there. Legal lighting up time tot motor-ears: To-day, 4,27 j£m. Nest Friday, 4.26 p.m. Lightii'ig.np time nest Friday will be the Earliest reached during tile year, as sunset will remain at 4.26 p.m. from Juno 8 until June 20. - On June. 21. tin* sun will sot at 4.2? p.m.,.naif then gradually work Ins way,t0.7.42 p.nj., which ho reaches on December 30 and 31, and Ja.tma.ry 1 next. The Sydney Chauffeurs' and Tasfcab Drivers' TiiHtiii lias decided in favour of federation with similar heSsivs throughout Australia. It is stated that the Victorian tlnion lias increased in ntemborship from IQO to fiOQ during the last year. Tho number of registrations in Victoria, up to last week was 16,372. As evidence 'of tlie popularity of motoring in Poverty Bay, the Oisiorae "Herald" states that n« fewer ■ than three new garages arfe in 'course of erection in that town. '' ; It is to be hoped that something will come of the _ Slnwricotijfe County Council's 'resolution, directing tho at* tcntionof tho Bnthvay Department to Mio argent Mecossity of wirlenMig thes overhead bridge near Mauricev-fllo railway station. Tlwro arc 85 registered taxicahs in Melbourne, hist the City ' Councillors there complain that nojw'ean be found, on tho .streets, and ears fcanottly he got by ridging tip garages. flio'tnxicaK rates arcs; so low that no cars are put an tlio stands, and'to remedy mutters the coijoc.il has adopted a nt\i schedule permitting slightly increased fares. A Hff Ley-land has been running hi ftp fairiie-ifocni Cook service with satfsffwtory results during tho past sis m&Jiiihs. Two of the rriflst powerful Leylands in tho Swith Island are the ■six-ton terry used by Messrs, R. Hudson and Coy,,, of Diuwdjii, for earryiup: wheat,-, and tho five-fcmi meat w'agoti of Messrs-. Brtis., Christciiurch, A motor-bus late, put into ogerat-san in Bolivia on April 11, climbs to- as (tititnde, -above- Patoai, of IfjOQ'O feet, Tlw bases, c;r cars, ffe.ro mado- in Cleveland.' They haw--stjiteyl!ii.dor, -sisty horss<powor motors, and replace coaches that for many years have been drawn by mules.