CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10717, 30 October 1912, Page 7

CYCLING AND MOTOR NOTES

During the twelve months ending Juno 1912 3625 ears were imported into Australasia from America. Those figures represent about a sixth of the total number of cars in the Commonwealth and New Zealand, and Australasia is now America's third best customer for Motor Cars, Canada I coining first, a nd England second. The report of the Petrol Committee, appointed by tho Eoyal Automobile Club of England, holds out very little hope for a reduction in the price of petrol, in fact the conclusions to be drawn from the report are that as tho number of cars increase, the price of petrol will slowly but surely increase. Ouo thing appears to be inevitable, and that is that some form of heavier fuel must be the motor fuel of the future. The Pekin-Paris Aeroplane flight for which a prize has been offered by the Paris "Martin" has inspired English aviators with the project of arranging a flight from London, to India : and a committee has been organised jin London to push the scheme. The | proposed route is across Germany to Vu'enna, thence by way of tho Shipka Pass and Adrianople to Constantinople, then along the route to the Anatolia railway to Aleppo, thence to Bagdad, thence along the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian , Sea to Karachi, a total distance of 4,500 -miles. ..The public, of course, well' knows that race victories influence to a certain extent the sales of cars, particularly of those of the "roadster" type. But it must co'mo as a distinct surprise to hear of a German factor? which by good judgement and good/ luck managed to win three successive road races and one reliability tour, thereupon it received a cable from England for no less than eight bun-.,:; dred chassis of the winning type. Pre.' vious to the winning of these races, the entire output of tho factory i amounted to only ]OOO cars. The change which has come about ' in tho problem of tho London omnibus traffic is extraordinary. When first introduced the running expenses were enormous and nearly ruined the various companies. Now the omnibus is working at less than 7d. per omnibus mile, and is considerably more economic than a horse bus. The best tramway apparently costs over' ■ lOd. per train car mile, while the underground railway costs about 9d. per snile per thirty passengers , which w.K'kaVmt at a cost of the omnibus ii'le plus half the tram car mile.