THROUGH THE SNOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 308, 20 March 1928, Page 6

THROUGH THE SNOW

MORRIS ON SIX-WHEELER During the heavy snow' in England a scarlet six-wheeled fire-engine made a memorable journey across country so that Mr. W. R. Morris, the motor manufacturer, should reach Southampton in time to board the Cunard liner Aquitania on his way to Australia and New' Zealand. Mr. Morris, on the morning of his departure, finding himself snowbound at his home at Huntercombe, near Hen-ley-on-Thames, telephoned to his works at Cow'ley, near Oxford, for the six-wheeled fire-engine of his own manufacture. With caterpillar tracks fitted on the fouf back wheels, the fire-engine, driven by Mr. A. E. Keene, the racing motorist, started off at 9 a.m.. It carried nine firemen, some in uniform, and tw'o , mechanics. Several times

the crew had to dig the fire-engine out the snow. At 2.20 p.m. it reached Mr. Morris’s house, having covered the 16 1 miles in 52 hours, the only vehicle to” make the journey for two whole days. Mrs. Morris also rode on the engine, which carried 23 passengers and passed over fields and ditches during the journey to Henley-on-Thames, where its arrival caused a sensation. There is always danger in sudden stops. Clean under the mudguards after travelling over a tarred road. Lights when out of focus and aimed high cannot possibly illuminate the road properly. Keep the engine free from carbon and the valves properly adjusted, as carbon under the valves will prevent them from seating properly.