A NEW MOTOR GARAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 289, 1 December 1908, Page 4

A NEW MOTOR GARAGE.

AXOTUEII SICX OF iPBOUIIE.SS.

'lling-ting-tinklc—whirr-r-r r. Is that 350 V' " Yes, 330, Criterion Motor (jarage, here." ■' 31r Beeston übout V' "Speaking." "That's right. .Say, I've < go I to get out to Urenui and back before 1 tlie mail train to-night. Can you do it < iu your ear* It's four o'clock now." "X - think so. Try, at any rate. Are you J ready to start V" "Yes, come right < away." And in Jess than live minutes | the excited passenger was seated along- 1 1 side Air Beeston iu his large 18 h.p, "Brown" car. In less time than would have been occupied in harnessing up the buggy pair, tins almost noiseless piece of the very latest means of travel was saying good-bye to the Bell Block school house, some miles along the road. The journey ami the return were completed easily within the required time—how easily can best be ascertained from cilher of the twain who enjoyed the drive. The uc\v Criterion Motor Garage, recently creeled in Liardet street for Mr A. Beeston, had proved its usefulness. Of eourso, to respond to culls of this nature the proprietor has to have his garage thoroughly equipped. There must be good cars—aud plenty of thcni. They must be tuned to the moment, and kept ready for service at a moment's notice. They must be regularly overhauled, adjusted, and, if necessary, repaired, by mechanics who are expert at | tiiis particular business. The operatives must he provided with ail the special machinery ami tools required by this moat modern of businesses, a:ul they must be installed in suitable premises. , All o;' these requirements are provided for at the new Criterion Motor (larage. The building has been erected especially for a garage, aud Mr Beeston has brought all his knowledge to bear in making it most convenient for patrons and for the conduct ot his business. The fact that his stock of cars—apart altogether from the touring cars that are .stored there from time to time, and those which may be sent in for repairs—is worth some thousands of pounds, and that it is [ necessary to keep in bulk considerable . quantities of that most inllammable , material, petrol, make it imperative that . risk from lire should lie minimised. l-'or , • this rea.-o|, the garage is built of brick, j wiih concrete liooriiig throughout, it has a frontage of lifty feet to Liardet

street, and has ;i depth of eighty feet. The exterior, whilst not over-ornamen-ted, is attractive. The lofty roof has been so constructed .that 110 pillar or collimn deprives the proprietor of even one inch oi the lloor space. At the front of the building is a large show window, or rather a show-room with a plate-glass front, large enough to accommodate a large touring car, besides displaying the great, variety of accessories which Mr llecston has iu stock, such as lamps of all kinds, tyres, and spare parts. On the opposite side of the large doors is a room which is designed to be the home of the recently formed Taranaki Automobile Association. The room is nicely papered and finished, and should well meet the requirement:* of the club. Just beyond this is the ollice. In the same, block is a very cosy and complete waiting room for ladies, such a room as is

found in very few establishments. It is nicely lighted, well papered, and furnished in style that shows Mr Beeston has learned the knack of catering for the motorists of the fair-sex. \Vlut more pleasant after a dusty trip than to retire to a dressing room, where fresh cool water, clean towels, and an indispensable large mirror, with all the other toilet accessories, make it possible to appear in the street fresh and free from the signs of travel '( The rest of the main building is devoted to the accommodation of the large ileet of motor-cars iu use by the firm, and hired out to patrons at most moderate rates. There are also several new cars. These are for sale. They include the Yauxhall, Gladiator, Brown, and several other world-lamed makes. The concrete lloor is tinted pink, which gives it a pleasing appearance. Ju the middle of the garage is a large turntable, splendidly swung. The chauffeur drives his ear right on to the turn-table. Dismounting, by a slight push lie is able

to turn the uar so that when it has been kicked into its place it is ready to lie taken straight out of the doors, without the trouble of backing—the bane of the unpractised motorist. At the rear again is the large repairing department, 50ft x •20ft. This is lighted by an almost continuous row of windows high up from the lloor. In it are installed an electric motor for driving the large lathe; dynamo for charging accumulators; braziers, apparatus for vulcanising tvres, drills, and other necessary appliances. Whilst it may be necessary on the road sometimes to crawl under a car to see what is wrong with the works, that sort of thing would not do here, so a long " inspection pit" has been constructed so that the mechanics may walk beneath the cars under repair. This department is entirely under the management of Ml' Frank .Mower, recently from one of the large motor-car establishments in Knglaml. He has hail long experience a< a nn>tor-ear mechanic, and iias a reputation for skill as a driver, lieforc lie left home lie was entrusted with the onerous duty of getting the .Mercedes cars ready for the great race on the lirooksland track—work that would lie entrusted to none but a thoroughly expert, and reliable craftsman. .Mr Becslon gives it as his opinion that one of the main points i:i establishing a business of this kind is to have a man to whom any kind of car and any kind of repair work can be safely entrusted, and lie has that man in Mr ■Mower, xviio has liis own stall'. Already the repairing work is assuming considerable dimensions.

1 The increase in the number of loeallvowued and visiting cars is astonishing. A few yours ago the appearance of a motor-car in n street would brkig all 1 heads to tlie windows. Now, they are accepted even by the bulk of the horses a.-j mere piece* of modernism that haze come to stay, and to which all must become accustomed. Cav-ownors will welcome tlie establishment of this garage, one of the most complete in the colony, for now all their wants, from a split-pin to a complete motor-oar. can be supplied ou the «pot. The garage is open for 24 hours on 'W-> days in the year. We congratulate .Mr J>eeston upon his enterprise, and trust that not one iota of his confidence in the progress of the district will ever prove to have been misplaced.