HISTORY OF TRANSPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1939, Page 6

HISTORY OF TRANSPORT

INFORMATIVE GUIDE ISSUED. PAVILION EXHIBIT. The Guide issued by the United Kingdom Government pavilion for their display at the Centennial Exhibition is of far more interest than merely as a listing of the exhibits, for it makes a valuable reference to the history of transport on air, land and sea. It starts with a section on aeroplanes, fully illustrated, which traces the history of flight from Lana’s flying boat, 1670, to a new aircraft under construction by the Fairey Aviation Company, Limited. It is a mine of information, not only on aviation, but on locomotives, motor-cars and ships. The booklet contains nearly 200 pages of excellent matter and all sections are profusely illustrated, thus giving a pictorial history of transport as well as a written one The motor-car section commences with Gurney’s steamcoach* the first automobile or horseless carriage which made its appearance on an English road in the year 1827. "The first public trial was from London to Bath and back, which was made at the rate of 15 miles an hour. The public objected to steam carriages on the roads, and at Melksham, Wiltshire, a mob attacked and stoned the machine, knocking Gurney unconscious.” Facts such as these are scattered throughout the whole publication and make it an entertaining booklet as well as a useful guide to the display in the United Kingdom pavilion. In another paragraph in the motorcar section, the fact is recorded that the first order for a motor-car to be received in the United Kingdom from abroad was one from Sultan Abdul Hamid, who ordered an electric dogcart about 1890 from Mr Magnus Volk, Brighton. Among the later models mentioned in the booklet are included the famous racing cars. "The Golden Arrow. 1929. “The Bluebird." 1935, and the "Thunderbolt," 1938.

CORACLES TO “QUEEN MARY.” The shipping section covers a range from the "Coracle" and dug out prehistoric vessels to the R.M.S. "Queen Mary," and for lovers of the sea is a most valuable reference.

Vasco da Gama’s ship. 1497, is included in the models in the booklet and it states that in reaching Mozambique. Mnkinda, by way of Cape of Good Hope, much was attributed to the innovation of the use of three masts. The measurements of all ships in the booklet are given, which gives the illustrations an added interest. The first vessel owned by the Cunard Steamship Company, Limited, the "S.S. Britannia" 1840. is included in the illustrations and the text and the booklet states that she left Liverpool for her first Atlantic crossing on July 4 and arrived at Halifax in 11 days 4 hours and completed her run to Boston in 14 days 8 hours.