In Public Service.
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Hendon U.D.C. has accepted the tender of Merryweather and Sons, Ltd., at £1220.
The new Dennis engine for Coatbridge has satisfied the local authorities, and many visiting firemasters, in a variety of tests.
The Paris postal authorities are making experiments in regard to the use of motorbuses on regular services, in connection with the postal services.
Amongst the reports from chief officers of fire brigades, the receipt. of which we acknowledge with thanks, is that of the chief of the Croydon Brigade; Mr. J. W. Dane.
The chief officer of the Grimsby brigade is of opinion that the motor fire-engine under his charge paid for itself on the occasion of a recent fire at a timber yard there.
Watford F.D.C. has now, on the veport of the Captain of its brigade, decided to invite tenders for two motor fire-engines, and to dispose of the existing steamers and inanuals.
The Newry Chamber of Commerce, of which Mr. J. Edgar Connor is President, has appointed a committee to co-operate in the matter of proposals for the establishment of a motorbus service between Newry and Rathfriland.
The Gateshead and District Tramway Co., Ltd., of which Mr. W. Morrison is general manager, has now established the service of motorbuses between Low Fell and Chester-le-Street. The vehicles are Straker-Squires, and the fare for the complete trip of ei miles is only 6d.
At the last meeting of the Sheffield City Council, Sir Win. Clegg, Chairman of the Tramway Committee; agreed to take back a recommendation for the establishment of a connecting tramline from the Present Hillsborough route to Crookes Valley Road, in order to see if the use of motorbuses was feasible instead. We should say the issue is not in any doubt.
The striking London taxi-drivers, by an overwhelming majority, have rejected the offer of the proprietors to supply a new class of motor spirit, at laid. per gallon, as from the 14th inst., in order to settle the si rike. So gloomy is the outlook in the London taxicab industrY. owing to low fares and the demands of the drivers, that W. and G. du Cros., Ltd., may convert a very considerable proportion of its fleet into light rnotorvans. The British "Motorcab Co., Ltd., has given in. and is supplying motor spirit at the old price of 8d.
London Traffic Rivals.
The latest comparisons between receipts are afforded by the following tabular data:
Wood Green T.T.D.C. is now considering the tenders which have been lodged for the supply of motor fire appliances.
Thomas Tilling. Ltd.. has added to its popularity in South-East London, by the establishment on a sound basis of a regular service between Brun)ley and Farnborough. There is, of course, the usual local grumble. In this case, the parties who ask for a circular route, to include Keston Mark, are likely to press their point on the proprietors.
A subscriber who has recently returned from Nigeria sets forth, on page 58a, his views about prospects for sales of commercial motors to trader in and around Lagos. We have on several occasions dealt at considerable length with the Government services in that Colony, the last occasion being in our issues of the 7th, 14th and 21st March, 1912.
Local Susceptibilities.
The attention of the National Steam Car Co.. Ltd., has been called by Camberwell B.C. to the fact that the company has not carried out the agreement of the conference held at the Westminster Town Hall in 1910. to inform the local authority of any new routes which it was proposed to adopt. This is in connection with the extension of the line of route of certain of the company's buses from the " King's Arms," Peckham Rye, to the " Plough," Lordship Lane. The South Eastern and Chatham Railway Co. announces its usual attractive series of excursion and other bookings, to and from Paris and .other parts of the Continent, for the Easter holidays.
There is a dispute between proprietors of taxicabs at. Edinburgh, as to the scale of fares that is to be in force. The larger proprietors seek increases, and we consider that circumstances justify them.
The London and South Western Railway Co. has withdrawn clause 33 of its Bill, which deals with the provision of road vehicles, ahd stituted in lieu thereof clause 16 of the London and North Western Railway Act, 1909.
Croydon Retrenches.
• Croydon is reducing its tramcar fares, but has set its face against halfpenny fares. Motorbus competition has stirred up the local comtnittee—especiallv the loss on certain sections of die lines. The disclosed loss on the Whitehorse Road service, since the autumn of 1911, has amounted to no less than £3700.
The Imperial Motor Transport Conference. •
One of the principal objects of the imperial Motor Transport Conference, which is announced for July next, will be to encourage the sales of War-Office subsidy types. We referred to this project in our issue of the 27th alt.
The advance circular with regard to the undertaking states that it is hoped to interest various Government and other departments, Chambers of Commerce, Agricultural Societies, and allied bodies, throughout the country, and overseas.
The Conference will be held after the International Road Congress, and after the Royal Show at Bristol, and will practically coincide with the opening and duration of the Commercial -4 chicle Show at Olympia. • H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught is patron, whilst the Hon. Arthur Stanley, M.P., is Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Amongst those who have given their names or promised to give time. to work up interest in the Conference, we observe the following: Ashton M. Heath, Esq., W. Joynson-Hicks, Esq., M.P., H. G. Humby, Esq., Sir John H. A. Macdonald. K.C.B.,Sir Charles Metcalfe, Bart., Sir Thomas D. Pile, Bart., James Tearoe, Esq., E. Manville, Esq., Sidney Straker, Esq., Raymond Dennis, Esq., F. Churchill, F.sq.. and T. Barry Cole, -Esq. Colonel R. E. Cromp
ton, C.B., is a member of the Executive Committee.
A Veteran Motorbus.
The illustration shown on the right-hand side of this page represents the first Wolseley motorbus to be placed in everyday service by the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd. Outlasting all its contemporaries, this particular vehicle was the last of the Htype to be discarded from the company's service. It is interesting to note that this type 6f chassis was designed by a present member of the Editorial staff of this journal. We would recall to our readers the fact that 120 of these machines were placed in the servisse of the L.G.O.C. They wore well.
Referring to the illustration it will be noted that the machine is of the under-type. When it is re • membered that this chassis was designed in the very early days of motorbus construction when there were little or no reliable formulas on which to work, it is the more remarkable that this type of machine should be in such growing and universal favour amongst the best Continental makers, even in 1913.