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News and Comment.

12th May 1910, Page 10
12th May 1910
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Page 10, 12th May 1910 — News and Comment.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The authority, circulation and influence of this journal rest upon Facts.

Our regular monthly notes on steel will be found on pages 191 and 192.

Mr. H. G. Burford has been reelected hon. treasurer of the S.M.M.T.

The Sevenoaks meeting of the R.A.C. and associated clubs is postponed sine die.

London Registrations.

On 3Ist March last, there were 2,189 " heavy motorcars " registered in the County of London, as against 34,98.3 motorcars and 12,341 motorcycles. The number of registrations of the various classes of vehicles in the quarter which ended on the above date was: heavy motorcars, 27; motorcars, 1,334 ; motorcycles, 617. Many London-used motors are, of course, registered elsewhere—before delivery.

The Parade.

The entries to date, for the fourth London parade of commercial motors, together with a ground plan of Lincoln's Inn Fields and the approaches thereto, will be found on pages 202 and 203. Entries in the " team " section remain open until Saturday, the 28th inst. The last date for ordinary entries has been extended to the 21st inst. A photograph of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR Cup, which is now on view at 119, Piccadilly, W., is also reproduced on page 203.

The Road Board.

Under the provisions of Section 7 (1) of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, with which this journal exclusively dealt in its issue of the 23rd December last, the Treasury has appointed the following gentlemen to be members of the Road Beard: Sir George S. Gibb (Chairman); The Right Hon. the Lord Pirrie, K.P. ; The Right Hon. the Lord Kingsburgh, Lord Justice-Clerk of Scotland; the Lord St. Davids; and Sir Charles D. Rose, Bart. We consider the appointments admirable, although many keen automobilists will wonder why the name of Colonel Crompton, C.B., Chairman of the Dust and Dustless Roads Committee of the Royal Automobile Club, is not in the list. The explanation is probably simple: those responsible for the Road Board possibly have in mind the further utilization of Colonel Crompton's engineering and scientific abilities on the consultative and practical sides, for which employment his special knowledge so admirably suits him.

Muir's Patent Hub.

In the King's Bench Division, before Mr. Justice Scrutton and a special jury, Mr. W. A. S. Hellyar, a solicitor, of Finsbury Pavement, E.C., sought to recover .400 damages from Mr. J. H. Fooks Bale, which amount he alleged he had been induced by the defendant to subscribe for a holding in Muir's Patent Hub and Tyre Syndicate, Ltd., by misrepresentation. After a lengthy hearing, and after the jury had deliberated for two hours, the foreman intimated that his colleagues could not come to an •agreement, and the judge discharged them. R.A.S.E.

For the society's trials of agricultural motors, to be held in the autumn, entries have been received from the following firms :—The Cyclone Agricultural Tractor Co., Ltd., 30, Moorgate Street, London, E.C. (two entries); the Ideal Agricultural Motor Co., Ltd., 96, Cheapside, London, E.C. (one entry); the Ivel Agricultural Motors, Ltd., 46, Poland Street, London, W. (two entries); Messrs. J. and H. McLaren, Midland Engine Works, Leeds (one entry); Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd., Pepper Road Works, Hunslet, Leeds (two entries); Mr. H. P. Saunderson, Elstow Works, Bedford (two entries); and Wallis and Steeyens, Ltd., North Hants. Iron Works, Basingstoke (one entry). The Implement Committee is making inquiries for suitable land upon which to conduct the trials. Members of Council for the divisions of Kent, Essex, Norfolk, Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, Berkshire, and Hertfordshire, and other gentlemen have been asked if they could assist the society in procuring suitable land for the trials. About 100 acres of heavy land and 100 acres of light land are required, and 50 or 60 acres of one or the other should be in wheat for harvesting.

" Commer-Car " Sales.

Commercial Cars, Ltd., of Luton, is booming. The company has certainly been in the van of progress: it was the first of the newer school of manufactnrers to become thoroughly established in the United Kingdom, and that in record time. Its orders for April constitute a record, and are 50 per cent. greater than in any previous month. Amongst its goods vehicles, we observe sales of : two seven-ton tipping lorries to Russia, and of these we reproduce a photograph herewith; a three-ton Barnet-type lorry to Davenport's, Ltd., brewers, Birmingham; a five-ton lorry, through Mr. I. P. White, of Manchester, to Messrs. G. and J. Shepherd, of Bacup ; a three-ton Barnet-type lorry (repeat order, making the fifth chassis for the same buyer), to the Gas Light and Coke Co., London; a Bedford-type 2-(wt. lorry, through Messrs. Grace and Sutcliffe, of Keighley, to Messrs. Rhodes Bros., of Bradford ; a Bridgwater-type four-ton lorry to Pike, Spicer and Co.. Ltd., brewers, Portsmouth ; a three-ton lorry, through Vanxhall Motors, Ltd., to Messrs. Youingman. Preston and Co., brewers, of Lowestoft; a four-ton Leeds-type lorry (repeat order) to the Nairobi Transport Co., British East Africa ; and four 30-cwt. and one three-ton cha:sis for the Philippines. Mr. W. Harpur, City Engineer of Cardiff, has recommended the purchase of another steam motor wagon, with covered top, for the collection of street refuse, and the Council has approved the recommendation. It appears that the daily inclusive cost of working such a wagon, at Cardiff, is 24s.

French Military Registrations.

No less than £12,000 is this year to be distributed in bonuses amongst purchasers of commercial motors suitable for the French army. Some 120 vehicles will be subsidized—another object lesson for our military authorities. Germany gives a constructional bonus of 1:200, and an annual subvention of £50 a year for five years.

Albion Orders.

The Albion reputation for reliable

vehicles continues to bring in a flow of both new and repeat orders. Messrs. Chalmers and Co., of Redhill, Surrey, are included in the latest series of customers, and their 15-cwt. Albion chassis will be employed for the conveyance of his Majesty's mails between Dorking, Reigate, Redhill and Limpsfield. This well-known Scottish maker; by the way, requires the services of a special travelling representative, to which effect an announcement will be found in our sundry-advertisement pages.

Autoclipse L3inps.

Brown Bros., Ltd., of Great Eastern Street, E.C., which company deservedly enjoys a big trade in side and bead lamps for commercial vehicles, .draws attention to the advantage of the new Autoclipse gold reflector, which it has introduced for all lamps of that pattern. We commend this change to owners of mail vans and other high-speed commercial vehicles which have to travel in the dark, as it. whilst reducing the glare. and slightly altering the projected rays in colour, actually increases the penetrative power in fog or mist, through which it is more efficient than any white light. The qualities of these gold-cased reflectors have received high scientific endorsement, and they retain their brilliancy indefinitely. M.A.B. Extensions.

At the meeting of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, on Saturday last, the Ambulance Committee reported that for motor ambulances they had obtained tenders for : (1) nine ambulance chassis; (2) five brougham-shaped bodies ; and (3) four van-shaped bodies. The tenders for the chassis had been referred to Mr. Hounsfield, the Board's expert., for consideration and report, and on his advice the Committee recommended: that the tender of Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, for the supply of eight chassis for motor ambulances at the Eastern Station, at £309 15s. each, be accepted ; also, that the tender of Belsize Motors, Ltd.., of Clayton, Manchester, be accepted for the supply of one chassis for a motor ambulance at the Eastern Station, at • £220. It was explained that a list of the tenders received might be inspected by members of the Board, but on the advice of the expert a condition. of the tender was that the prices of unaccepted tenders should not he published. The recommendations were adopted.

The following were the tenders received for the supply of bodies :--For five brougham-shaped bodies—Chalmers and Co., High Street, Redhill, £215: Wm. and Thos. Robson, Ltd.; 60, Farringdon Road, E.G., £320; Bayleys, Ltd,. 42, Newington Causeway, SE., £375; Dennis Bros., Ltd., Guildford, £375; Scottow and Co., Ltd., King Street, Southport, £375; Stagg and Robson, Ltd., Selby, £400: Lanarkshire Motor Co., Campbell Street, Hamilton, N.B., £425; Wilson and Stockall, Ltd., Bury, Lancashire, £423; Belsize Motors, Ltd., Clayton, Manchester, £450; Bristol Wagon and Carriage Works Co.; Ltd., Bristol, £470; F. B. Goodchild and Co., Ltd., Craven House, Kingsway, £512 10s.; F. Bradley, Ltd., 9, Argyll Place, Regent Street, W., £525. For four vanshaped bodies.— Chalmers and Co., £172; Albert Cheesman, Maidstone, £178 ; Knebworth Carriage and Motor Body Works, Knebworth, Herts, £210; Wm. and Thomas Robson, Ltd., £244; Scottow and Co., Ltd., £250; W. Parkyn and Sons, Ltd., 55-57, Holmes Road, Kentish Town, N.W., £256; Belle Isle Co., Ltd., York Road, Islington, N., £268; Bayleys, Ltd., £300; Stagg and Robson, Ltd., £312; Lanarkshire Motor Co., £320; Wilson and Stockall, Ltd., £340; Dennis Bros., Ltd., £360; Bristol Wagon and Carriage Works Co., Ltd., £360; F. B. Goodchild and Co., .Ltd., £300; Belsize Motors, Ltd., £400; F. Bradley, Ltd., £520.. The Committee recommended that the tenders of Chalmers and Co., Redhill, be accepted for the supply of the five broughamshaped bodies at £215, and for the four van-shaped bodies at £172. This was agreed to.

Bournemouth Fetes.

The death of his late Majesty King Edward VII, to which we make fit ting if brief allusion on the opening page of this issue, will not affect the programme for the Bournemouth Centenary Fetes. It is likely, as a matter of fact, that the Bournemouth programme will he first in the whole country to he free from the prevalent air of mourning. It is fixed to take place in July, from the 6th to the 16th, hut the arrangements are also likely to include a motor-boat meeting on four succeeding days. Mr. W. Bowman is the Organizing Manager of the fetes, and he has wisely included, as we were recently able to announce, a motor fire-engine demonstration. Aviation is, of course, the great attraction; the Royal Aero and the Royal Automobile Club have taken the Burlington Hotel, Boscombe. Inside a Brewery Yard.

Our view shows four out of a fleet of six steam lorries owned by Barclay, Perkins and Co., Ltd. The !eading vehicle, as will be seen, is a Foden. Two of this make, as well as two Thornycrofts and two Yorkshires, are employed. The only internal-combustion vehicle which this brewery company owns is its four-year-old 20 hp. single-cylinder Broom and Wade lorry.

Co-operative Purchases.

The Leigh Co-operative Society, Ltd., after experience with a Dennis lorry which was supplied last year, has bought another of • the same make. This latter vehicle, which we illustrate herewith, is of the standard two-ton Dennis type with 28 h.p. Dennis engine. In our photograph, the Managing Director of the Leigh Society is standing to the extreme left of the photograph.

Recent Registrations.

D. Thorne and Son, Ltd., with an authorized capital of £6,000 in shares, and with its office at Oxford Mills, Park Lane, Leeds, to acquire and take over and carry on a business of inventors, manufacturers and dealers in tires for motorcars and other vehicles.

The Deansgate Motor Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of 1;6,000 in ,C1 shares, by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., to carry on the business of manufacturers of motorcars, motors, carriages, and vehicles of all kinds, etc. :First directors: John Heywood, 5, Rowsley Avenue, West Didsbury, Manchester ; F. K. Heywood, 86, Clyde Road, West DkIsbury, Manchester; and A. Pettit.

The Mersey Motor Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £4,000 in £1 shares (3,000 preference), by Hooper and Son, 69, Ludgate Hill, E.C., to take over the business of J. W. Davies (trading under the style of Kelly, Boumphrey and Co., and also under the style of The Mersey Motor Co., at 71 and 73, Market Street and 30 and 32, Conway Street, Birkenhead), and to carry on the business of automobile and motor engineers, repairers, and salesmen, sellers of automobiles, etc. Directors: J. W. Davies, 31, James Street, Liverpool; R. Reynolds, 162, Prenton Road West, Birkenhead; and W. J. Newton, Fairholme, Heswall, Chester.

J. Wild and Co. (Wigan), Ltd., with an authorized capital of f.:1,500 in shares, by Charles Doubble, 14, Ser jealles Inn, Temple, E.C., to carry on the business of warehousemen and forwarding agents and carriers, and to purchase motor wagons for the conveyance of merchandise of all kinds. The Express Motor Delivery Co.; Ltd., with an authorized capital of i1,000 in £1 shares, to carry on the business of motor-lorry, motervan, omnibus, cab, ear, and traction-engine proprietors, etc. Directors: Major J. E. Cochrane, Aldershot, engineer; and P. B. Richardson, 53, Queen Street, Sheffield.

The Fernand Forest Universal Patents Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £20,000 in shares, and with its office at 10-12, Copthall Avenue, E.C., to carry on the business of manufacturers of, dealers in, letters to hire, repairers, cleaners, storers and warehousers of automobiles, motorcars, motors, etc.

Samson Tyres, -Ltd., with an authorized capital of £10,000 in £.1 shares (5,000 preferred ordinary), by W. B.

Styer, 11-12, Fenchurch Street, EC., to carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in and letters to hire of pneumatic and all other tires and. wheels of motor carriages, etc., and other carriages, etc.

The Richmond Motor Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £2,000 in £1 shares, and with its office at Talbot Yard, Hill Street, Richmond,

Surrey. Directors: W. M. Smither, Talbot Yard, Hill Street, Richmond, Surrey ; and E. R. Wild, of same address.

The De Laval Igniter Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £1,500 in £.1 shares, and with its offiee at 64a, Broad Street, Birmingham. Directors include R. E. Bentley, 64a, Broad Street, Birmingham.

The Transit Express Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £2,000 in £1 shares, and with its office at 65, Haymarket, S.W., to enter into an agreement with Commercial Cars, Ltd., and to carry on the business of proprietors of motorcars, motorbuses, motor lorries, etc. Directors include R. H. I). Sanders, Charleville Park, Charleville, Co. Cork.

Edward T. Saint and Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £10,000 in 11 shares, and with its office at the East Anglian Automobile Agency, Newmarket Road, Cambridge, to acquire and take over as a. going concern the endertaking of the East Anglian Automobile Agency, and to carry on the business of buying and dealing with motors, commercial motors, motor vehicles, etc. Directors: W. Saint, Redholme, Tenisan Road, Cambridge ; E. T. Saint, 6, St. Baruabus Road, Cambridge ; and B. E. Lang. Castle Mills, Edinburgh.

The Castle Mills of the North British Rubber Co., Ltd., at Edinburgh, were visited, on Wednesday of last week, by members of the Amsterdam Society for the Promotion of Industry (Maatschappij van Nijverheid). A splendid souvenir booklet of the occasion was handed to each visitor, as a memento.

Mr. J. B. Talbot.Crosbie.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Talbot-Croshie, whose marriage took place last week at Baldernoch. Mr. Talbot-Crosbie is well known to the commercial-motor world, from his connection with the Glasgow house of Stewarts, the builders of the steam wagons of that name. Mr. Crosbie is also a member of the general, commercial-vehicle, and technical committees of the Scottish Club. Argyll Vans.

A 15 h.p. light parcel or delivery van, purchased by Messrs. John Menzies and Co., the bookstall and newspaper firm of Scotland, is a recent Argyll delivery. Its neat lines, and the practical appearance of its low-sided body, will appeal to many owners. Apropos Argyll models, we learn that the Dulwich Grove Model Laundry, of Dulwich, S.E., is obtaining excellent results with a 10 h.p.

which was purchased in April of last year. This van averages 40 miles a day, takes a third of the time occupied by horse-vans in doing that distance, and is in direct comparison with two horse-vans, which it completely " knocks out." The laundry in question intends to put on motors at its Norwood branch works, and also at the Isle of Thanet Laundry in Margate. The larger area over which prompt deliveries will be made, will ensure increased business for all of these. Westminster Council's Intended Extensions.

The Highways Committee of the Westminster City Council reports having obtained tenders for seven petrol motor wagons and seven. trailers, also for the supply of rubber tires for seven motor wagons. Tenderars were required to quote for the maintenance of the motor wagons dun= ing five years from the date of purchase, and, if required by the Council, for a further period of three years and two years, respectively, making eight years or 10 years in all, the first year's maintenance to be free of charge to the Council. The following makers submitted tenders:— Motor wagons.—Broom and Wade, Ltd.; The BURT. Co., Ltd.; Commercial Cars, Ltd.; Dennis Bros., Ltd.; Leyland Motors, Ltd. ; John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd.; French's Garage and Motor Works, Ltd. (this last was received after the other tenders had been opened) :—

Bobber tires.—J. W. and T. Connolly, Ltd.; Continental Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd.; Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd. ; Peter Union Tyre Co., Polack Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd.; Shrewsbury and Challiner Tyre Co., Ltd.

"Trailers.—Bristol Wagon and Carriage Works Co., Ltd.; Eagle Engineering Co.; Hazeldine Bros.; Samuel Jackson, Ltd.; C. Smith and Son; Stagg and Robson, Ltd.; W. Tasker and Son, Ltd.; .Raylevs, Ltd. (this last was received after the other tenders had been opened).

In regard to the tenders for motor wagons, and the Assistant Engineer's report on same, the tender of Leyland Motors, Ltd., was the lowest for the type required for the Council's work, and the Committee was of opinion that this should be accepted. Leyland Motors, Ltd., has supplied and is maintaining five of the Council's existing motor wagons. Although there is one lower tender, it is for paraffin motors, and is, moreover, qualified by restrictions with regard to the weights to be carried by trailers. The tender of Leyland Motors, Ltd., is as follows:— Supplying seven petrol motor wagons, exclusive of rubber tires, £580 each, total 4,060; maintenance per annum of the seven motors (first year free), 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th years, £437 10s., 6th 7th and 8th years, .e472 IA.. 9th and 10th years, .1.:507 10s. The Committee has, subject to the usual sanction, accepted this tender. With regard to the rubber tires for the seven petrol motor wagons, the Committee has accepted the tender of the Polack Tyre and Rubber Ltd., for the supply of 850 mm. Co.,y 140 ram. front-wheel tires, 1,030 mm. by 140 mm. backwheel tires, and providing rims and fixing, for a total of £834 1.5s. In regard to the trailers, the Committee has, subject also to the usual sanction, accepted the tender of Messrs. Hazeldine Bros., for seven trailers, for a total of C511.

Fletcher-Russell Furnaces.

The Business Department asks us to express regret, which we have pleasure in doing, for an error which occurred in last week's advertisement announcement of Fletcher, Russell and Co., Ltd., of Warrington. The word " welding" had, by a printer's error, been substituted for the word "melt

ing." Readers of this journal are well aware that, whilst Fletcher-Russell gas furnaces cannot be used for One of our journals recently celebrated its thousandth number, and no wonder some of the

An Auspicious writers on it, who were in at the start, indulged in some retrospect. The thousandth of anything marks an auspicious milestone passed, and I feel it of special interest therefore, when I am reminded, by my friend Mr. " Basch " Bennett, as he is becoming generally known, that his firm has just received from its works the 500,000th Bosch magneto. It leads one " furiously to think," as the French have it, of the way the magneto has taken hold—the above-named make in particular.

Milestone.

Most of us have found ourselves intensely interested in the La Milo case, partly because of the An Absolute lady's charming per Acquit-La/. sonality, and because of the connection of this dispute with the motor business. It is eminently satisfactory to find that Mr. Percy Holland Easton, of the Motor House, is so thoroughly exonerated from any complicity in the matter. " The Globe," of the 2nd inst., seems to have put the matter more concisely than did any other paper, and, in justice to Mr. Easton, who must have suffered considerably hy loss of business, as well as in a personal sense, T think it well to quote fully -with a view to dispel false impressions—fram our contemporary. Says "The Globe " " Mr. Marshall Hall having finished his speech, Sir Frederick Lew was about to address the Court on behalf of Easton, when his lordship told the jury that if they came to the conclusion that the receipt, given to Wood by Eggena and purporting to be signed by Easton, was given without Easton's knowledge, then there was no case against Easton. Mr. Horace Avory for the

welding, they are widely used for hardening, carbonizing, annealing and tempering.

A New Tire-tester.

We have received from Brown Bros., Ltd., of 22-34, Great Eastern Street, E.C., a sample of a handy little device which is known as the Twitchell tire-tester. The idea of this device is to enable the actual pressure in the tire to be measured at any time, and it has met with considerable approval in the States, where we are informed that almost every car owner carries prosecution said he had only been waiting for Mr. Marshall Hall to conclude his address to tell the jury exactly what the judge had just told them. Sir Frederick Low asked for a verdict of acquittal, which was immediately given, and Easton was discharged. There was applause in court when the decision was given."

An ingenious little brochure has reached me from Davy and Ransome, of Caxton House, A Query and a Westminster, w h o have been appointed sole agents for London and the south of England, for Buffeline gears. The front cover of the brochure contains nothing more than a pertinent question, "Have you heard of us e" and, when one wanders farther into the booklet, the question is answered for you, a large" NO! " filling the second page. I proceeded to my enlightenment, and found the next leaf was devoted to " WHY ?" Then I started on the campaign myself. I commenced answering questions on my own account. I said quite succinctly. Because you do not make yourselves known in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR." It was as easy as pie answering these problems, and then I find the real reply, on the page following, along with beautiful pictures of gears and pinions and things, " Be

cause we are Noiseless !!! ' Very pretty idea, hut my answer takes the prize all the same.

Reply.

" Why are you so behind with your deliveries of Stoewer wagons into this country? " This was Very Different a question I put to Here. Mr. Turner Smith, the English representative of Stoewer Bros., and the answer came, " Because we have made a con

one. In order to test the pressure in a pneumatic tire, it is only necessary to remove the dust cover, and to apply the tester to the end of the valve socket. The small pin contained in the tester can be made to depress the valve plunger itself, and the pressure within the tire is communicated to a small piston in the tester. This in turn indicates on the gauge the exact pressure in the tire. We have made several practical tests with this interesting little device, and have so far found it answer its purpose.

tract with the German Government to supply them with a large number of heavy vehicles, and they will not give us any quarter, and, moreover, the Government grant in Germany is so liberal that Government business is eagerly sought after." A new catalogue caught my eye, and I found it was printed in German only, but I gathered that an English one was in the printer's hands. A couple of interesting Stoewer photos were reproduced in our last issue.

This page is becoming a regular Labour Bureau, but I don't mind so long as I can serve

Commercial some useful plirEng ineer Required. pose. I givebelow

an interesting letter received from the district manager of an important motorcab company in the Provinces. Letters should be sent on here, and addressed " Cabs,' care of The Extractor.' " The letter runs :—

" I have been frequently interested in reading your ' Out and home ' page in THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, and particularly your remarks on the subject of vacant posts and the filling of them. To apply them particularly to myself. I am on the look-out for a local manager for this company in the North. and am finding considerable difficulty in getting the right goods.' If you should be able to put me in touch with a commercial engineer—I am afraid there are not many such—I would be extremely obliged. I may add that while the medium of advertisement has produced a number of applications. they usually emanate from motor salesmen without. technical ability or from workshop managers ; experience has shown that the former cannot keep his cabs on the road, and the latter is hopelessly at sea in dealing with his correspondence or in treating with the public.' Early to Press.

Owing to the holidays, this journal will go to press with the sales and sundry-advertisement section on 'Saturday next, the 14th inst., instead of the following Monday. Will intending advertisers please note?

Sentinel Six-tonners.

One of the most-recent six-ton Sentinel steam wagons to be purchased by a brewery is the one (No. V 914) sold to IATestlake's Brewery Co,, Ltd. This make, of which the home sales were practically inaugurated by one well-known North-country brewer, has proved popular and successful with many owners in that industry, and also with various big millers.

Rubber Tires at the Forthcoming Parade.

Although the accompanying list does not disclose which of the vehicles are fitted with solid-indiarubber tires, a perusal of the " make and type " column is sufficient to show that, fur the first time in the history of these parades, there is reasonable likelihood that the soft tread will approximate to 50 per cent, of the total. In spite of the high figures at which rubber is changing hands, the maintenance of which for a considerable period appears likely, the value of a resilient medium in contact with the road surface, and upon which topic, as it happens, a new correspondent of this journal has something to say this week (page 205), enables rubber to hold its own, in competition with the inexpensive steel tire, in many classes of service. Will, we wonder, an enterprising tire manufacturer offer a prize, for award by the Judges Committee, to the driver who in relation to distance run and class of road over which his machine has travelled, parades with his tires in the best condition'?

More Australian Testimony.

The Howard Motor and Cycle Co., Ltd., of Brisbane, has written to Dennis Bros., Ltd., as follows :-" The first chassis we had from you we sold to a-local firm of carrying contractors, and it has been on the road five • months, covering about 100 miles per day over all sorts of roads, carrying its full load of 30 cwt., and has never stopped for one second through any fault. We are having the vehicle illustrated in one of the principal local papers. Mr. -• and other members of the firm, besides being particular friends of oum, are verymuch inopressed with all we have told them.

At the time of writing, the Royal Agricultural Society's Easter Show is in progras.s, and for the first time commercial motors have been added to the number_ Mr. Chapman, of the City

Motor Works, is showing a standard Albion 30-cwt. van, and a 3-ton. Hanford is also on show. It was expected that one or two more makes would have been represented, but, owing partly to late arrivals and partly to other causes, more have not been added.