Rumours reached me, during the Olympia pleasnie-car Show, that the
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negotiations with the Manchester traders, regarding a show, had closed with a snap, and that there was no chance of the parties' coming together again. This seemed strange news following Mr. Lawton Goodman'a speech at the Agent& Section dinner, SO I made a point of inquiring of one of the chief officials of the S.M.M.T., and I was told that there was no truth in the rumour—there was still every possibility of the sanctification of Cottnnopolis
This all reminds me that the Agents' Section dinner, on the 8th inst., at the Holborn Restaurant, was a most-pronounced success. Mr. W. M. Letts presided over 500 and odd people, and there was the usual enthusiastic tone, it transpired that the Section numbered over 1,000 now, against 300 when Stafford. the secretary, joined it, which was only one of the tributes paid al Stafford's inspiring personality. Mr. Lawton Goodman. responding for " the Local Sections," made, as usual, a stirring speech ; in fart, it would more properly be called an oration. Speaking of Olympia. he worked in a reference to the " ley regions of the Annexe," which seemed to find a sympathetic response, and another striking phrase was that in which he referred to Mr. Rees Jeffreys as having been raised to " The Peerage of Automobilism." Mr. 1). Citroen. of Minerva Motors, making. 1 understand, his maiden speech in public, did wonders with the toast of " the Gueste," and was heartily received, as also was Mr. Steason Cooke, of the A.A., who responded. Mounting a chair so that he could see his audience and be heard, Cooke never spoke to better advantage, and incideatally referred to the fact that his " employers " now numbered 17,555.
The Olympia Show has been phenomenally successful, and I believe over 25.000 was taken during one day at the gates. It is decided, I understand, to raise the price on the Tuesday of next year to ten shillings. At least one murmur reached my ears. The Society had invited the member* of the -Danish Motor Club to peas into the Exhibition free, according to Mr. Paul Christensen, of Copenhagen, hut when certain members presented themselves. and the officials were communicated with, the free list was nut in operation. Eventually some compromise was made, and they were allowed to enter at half price. I think there must be come misunderstanding. otherwise this seems rather queer procedure.
I ran across a motoring friend of mine from London in Yorkshire last week, and ho gleefully announced to me that, he had discovered a new word during his visit which seemed universal in that part of the country, especally in the motor trade. The new word, it appears, was " wattleyer," and then I subsequently learned that it was used in conjunction with, and preceding. the word " have." This was called to mind by a jeke, belonging to the same family, which was fired off at the Motor Club House Dinner by nine of the humorists. A bright little child was being asked by a visitor as to his progress at school, and as to how far she had arrived in arithmetic. and miladi promptly responded that she had reached
the gazinta." Tremendously puzzled. our friend begged for further partien lars and learned that it was simple division—four " gazinta " 12 three times.
We have been using our " A.-C." three-wheeler, which we procured from F. B. Goodchild and CO., Ltd., during the Show. It has been most useful, running between Rosebery Avenue and Olympia, and very well indeed it has served us. I looked round at the Oryx stand in the Annexe to tell F.B.G. of this, and I renewed a pleasant acquaintal112.0 with Mr. Bendix, the director of the Oryx concern in Berlin, who was over here for a few days. All this led to talk about the Oryx chassis, and then I learned that Goodchild is going to push a special Oryx model for taxicabs. My commercial interest was at once stimulated, and the net result was that F.B.G. called, in accordance with an arrangement, at my address on the Sabbath morning.and we were WOO sliding along through the grease and the rain to some address in South London, which Goodchild had characteristically forgotten. Never mind if we zig-zagged from place to place. When we did succeed in finding them, friends, they were charming people, and a full load eventually proceeded to Ashford Manor. I don't remember being out for years on such heavy greasy roads, but I was delighted
with the going of this Oryx car. It should prove a most saleable taxicab, the engine is so flexible and so silent-running and a half-turn started it every time. We had not a vestige of sideslip the whole day, and we went over the most awful treacherous stuff. Naturally, no trouble assailed, except puncture, and the Stepney wheel, which was seen fixed, stood by us for the remaining three-parts of the out-and-home trip.