MORTOR & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 9

MORTOR & MOTORING

/.By Clutch.]

Let Others Take the Chances. In driving si motor-car, the old saw about experience being tho best teacher holds good, as in anything else, but liioro are sonio points thut may bo passed along. First, it is well to remember that the enjoyable way to save time, trouble, ami expense, and publicity is lo let the other fellow take the chances. Lot him do tho "cutting in" and "skin" by pedestrians ' and obstacles. Pocket your pride if need be, and giro a liberal share of tho road, because even if you are in the right it is easier to keep out out trouble than to patch things up afterwards. Your original car is better than any repair job if somebody else pays, the bill.. Second, jeinember that a smooth-running'oar is not,a- coincidence or an accident, for after the time-500 miles' running, smoothness depends on attention to'little details. Some motorists priilo themselves upon the minimum care that they expend upon their motor. Somo imagine that it is a sign of weakness to bo found tightening bolts or doing the hundred and one little things that occasionally have to-bo attended'to oil even tho highest priced machines. Incidentally, sometimes it is invaluable for the owner to know what he is talking about as regards the mechanism of his car, even If he employs' a chauffeur to take care of it. A ■ few Uifctlo points which may bo more or less obvious to most people, but tlwy aro serviceable, a.nd help to rnaks motoring more, enjoyable, may be given: 1. Don't carry your picnic lunch on the door light over tho muffler, unless, of course, you want a warm lunch. 2. Ah ordinary trunk strap coiled up into a small roll requires little space, and may prove handy in case of a broken spring. 3. Thermos ..bottles riding on the car door are very liable to brcok. Carry them in a Case slung on coat vail or well packed' between --robes on tonlieau floor, i. It will save annoyance and expense, especially when touring, to keep your tools, spare, tires, and other valuable working equipment locked up. 5. If night louring is expected, don't forget lo try youv-lamps-before darkness sets in. A burnt biilb'or other trouble is tripled in annoyance 'if. you have to fix it after twilight. G. As tire troubles are usually tho principal troubles on a tour, it will lighten your work to keep rims graphited. Also carry, in some accessible place, a good-strong'screw-driver for prying and a- flat wrench for valve stem caps.. 1. A record of. your .tires can be tacked to the inside of your toolbos or som-s such convenient place, and it won t bo mislaid just when you want it, AViththese few points in mind you will add enjoyment when touring or when carrying out- repairs in the liome garage. Why Potrol is Dear. ' Basing its remarks upon a, report' presented to Congress by the Federal Trade Commission, the "Oil, Paint, and Drue; Reporter" of New York ■ takos up tbo case for the petrol refining interests as against those who assert that advantage is being taken to the existing abnormal conditions to exact an unduly high price for petrol. The Commission's report, it is stated, discloses several factors contributing to the increased cost of/ petrol. The decline in possible production of petrol is 2d-per cent. The stoclc of petrol on hand had been reduced 27f per cent., leaving a reserve supply'less than thirty- days' consumption on hand on January 1, 1916. An estimated increased consumption during the current year of at least 10,000,000 barrels. In the investigation now being carried on tho Commission is covering these points as.probable factors in determining the cost of petrol to the consumer:—"Forces of demand and supply as affecting the price of crude oil exports and imports; deterioration in tho quality, of crude; increased cost of refining; improved methods, and speculative holding of crude oil and potrol.

; The following factors arc submitted as responsible for the iacroaso of approximately 62 per cent, iu the price of petro! iii America during.: 1915:—The marked increase in the consumption, of petrol by to tho xapidly increasing number of such vehicles —and by motor' engines of all descriptions. The increase in tho cost of crude oil (in the year 1915, 55 per cent.). The virtual exhaustion of petrol stocks (t'> thirty days' consumption on January 1, 191G). The effect of tho European war, with the consequent increase in price of many commodities, other than petroleum products. The heavy decline in production of right gravity crude oil in the Cushing' fiola, and the'fact that the petrol content of. all grades of crude petroleum has been steadily declining during the past few years. Tho immediate marketing of the bulk of the petrol produced in America during the winter, instead of' producers, as in former years, meeting the spring demand with storage tanks filled. Generally, the "Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter" contends that these facts are only now beginning to receive the attention they deserve from "those who have accused the petrol refining interests of extortion. ' . The Search for Cheaper Fuels. To meet these conditions, the same trade journal remarks, every sort of an expedient has been suggested aud advocated.' Inventors by tlie' dozen, some with chemicals to be : added to water, some with acid separation processes to release hydrogen for use as. a motor-pro-pelling petrol substitute, have followed close upon tho. Government recognition of the Eittman process of cracking oil to produce motor fuel. Incentives have been given inventors to produce a carburetter to.use kerosene—admittedly the developer. of higkor power than petrol— and henco of greater, utility for heavy duty motors than the lighter spirit, should such carburetter adaptation be made commercially practicable, In fact, tho oil report-prepared by Secretary Lane, of the Internal Department,'and presented' to the United States Senate early .'this year, considered generally the necessity for a proper' consideration of possiblo measures of relief from therapidly ■ increasing stringency- -in tho supply of motor. fuols.' The"secretary went so far as to muko four specific recommendations: (1) , The use of heavier distillates, approaching kerosene in internal,combustion engines. .(2) An acceptable kerosene- carburetter would at once-go a long way towards relieving the present shortage of petrol. (3) General use of cracking'processes whereby petrol is made from kerosene and other- less valuable petroleum oils. (4) Increasing tho production of crude oil! to furnish the necessary supplies of. petrol, but this is not to be recommended if it increases the output of distillates'for which there is no market.'. • Petrol Purchase by the, Wairarapa Asso- | ciation. ' :' For sonio time the present high price of petrol has engaged the attention of tho Wairarapa Automobile Association, . and at the last 'meeting of the executive it was decided to4conclude'a deal, involving the purchase of 100 tons of benzine at an outlay of nearly .£3OOO. Tho secretary reported that ho had interviewed various firms. The best guotation provided for the supply of 50 tons • iu August and- 50 tons in September, at a cost of somewhat less than the price at pr'csont ruling. As the result of his activities that any orders for over 60 tons had been booked, payment to be made by . members seven days prior to arrival in Wellington. He did not anticipate any great difficulty in. disposing of tho balance, and members desirous of participating would do well to communicate with him at once, provided the meeting accepted the offer. After discussion it was.decided that this should bo done. Here and There. The American Trans-Continental Motor Car Record has again been lowered, ,1:. O. Baker (who recently visited Australia and established several motor-cy-cle- records) and W. I'. Sturm, being the successful drivers. An-8-cylinder Cadillac was used, the trip from Los Angeles (California) to New York, a distance of 3-171 miles, being accomplished in 7 days llhrs. f>2min. Tho longest day's drive was 567 -5 niilfu. Tho previous record was over 11 days. • Amateur cycle road racing is beginning to boom in the United Stales. Trophies to the valuo of MJO, including a motor-car for tho first prize, were recently given for a 25 mile 3 raco at Newark. •Lighting-up time: To-day, 4.2 D p.m. Next Piday, 1.23 p.m.

ASSOCIATION

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. Following are tho fixtures and referees for Saturday's Association games:— , Third Division.—Karori v. Marist, at Basin Reserve (B. L. Salmon); Y.M.C.A. v. St. David's, at Petone (F. O'Driscoll); Swifts v. Institute, at Duppa Street (C. Webster); Trentham C v. Trentham A, at Association Park (W. Auld); Brooklyn v. Featherston, at Duppa Street (A. Wells); Trentham D v. Trentham B, at Association Park (B. Hill). Fourth Division A.—Y.M.C.A. v.. Karori, at Kelburn Park, at 3 p.nh (H. Yeoman); Wadostown v. Maris), at Anderson Park at 3 p.m. (V. Astill); St. David's v. South Wellington, at Anderson Park, at 3 p.m. (G. Roberts). Fourth Division B.—Y.M.C.A. A v. St. David's, at Petone,. at 2 pirn. (A. Short); Institute r. Empire, at Kilbirnie Reserve, at 3 p.m. (A. Hastings); Brooklyn v. Y.JI.C.A. B, at Association-Park, at 2 p.m. (R. Hutcheson). Fifth Division A—St. DavM's v. Technical, at Petone,' at 2 p.m. (n. Loadbetter); Kardri v. Marist N., at Anderson Park, at 2 p.m. '(If. Hendry); Y.M.C.A. v. South Wellington, at Kelburn Park, at 2. p.m. (W. Press); Institute,, a bye. Fifth Division B.—lnstitute t. Wadestown, fit Anderson Park, at 2 p.m. (J. Pye-Smith); Y.M.C.A. v. Thorndon, at Kilbirnie Reserve, at 3 p.m. (A. Josephs); Island Bay v. St. Thomas's, at Basin Reserve, at 2 p.m. (B; Parata); Mnrist (N.) v. Marist T.. at Association Park, at 2 p.m. (B. Hill). Sixth Division A.—Marist T. v. Y.M.C.A., at Duppa Street, at 2 p.m. (C. Webster); Miti'ist H., a bye. Sixth Division B.—Y.M.C.A. y. Empire, at Duppa Street, "'at .2 p.m. (A. Evans); Swifts v. Marist, at Kilbirnie, at 2 p.m. (A. -Hastings); Kelburn v. Institute, at. Kilbirnie, at 2 p.m. (A. Josephs).