WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transPort at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness
of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Traction Engine Traffic and .Road Damage:
The county surveyor of Warwick reports that during hot days in the summer months a good deal of damage is done to tarmacadam and bituminous road surfaces all over the 'country by heavy traction engines shod with iron tyres having ordinary diagonal bars. This is, of course, most marked on newly laid road surfaces or those which have recently been surfaced with tar cr bituminous compbunds.
In his opinion, the amount of damage being done in this way is altogether out of proportion to the usefulness of these vehicles for road traction purposes, and he thinks that some effort should be made to restrict their use of the roads during l the slimmer monthsto certain fixed °hours of the day or, alternatively, that their tyres should be smooth shod or, better still, that they should have rubber tyres when travelling on the highway.
If one or other of these ideas. cannot be adopted in the near future, it is suggested that consideration might very well be given to the provision of a waterspraying arrangement for directing water on to the wheels when travelling on these surfaces, as it is thought that such a scheme would largely eliminate the picking-up of the road surface which now takes place so frequently.
Prestatyn Bus Settlement.
The Prestatyn Council recently declined to grant licences to the Rhyl and Potteries Motor Co., Ltd., to ply for hire with buses in Prestatyn, on the ground that an adequate service was already being run, and that the streets were too narrow to permit of the operation of further vehicles with safety. The company, however, ran their vehicles into the Council's area and Court pro. ceedings followed, and later they appealed to the Ministry of Transport. An enquiry was subsequently held, and The Ministry requested the Council to reconsider its decision on the condition that the company submitted a timetable that did not clash with that of the existing services. The Council has now adapted the Ministry's suggestion, and informed the Rhyl and Potteries Motor Co. of the fact.
An Interesting Licensing Point.
A Ministry of Transport circular was quoted by a clerk of ihe motor vehicle registration department, Swansea, when he gave evidence at Ammanford Police Court in support of the defence of Messrs. Jones, Clarke and Jenkins, motor traders, Fisher Street, Swansea, who were summoned for using a vehicle bearing a/general trade licence (t25) for a purpose contrary to that permitted by the licence.
The facts were that the defendants hired out the motor lorry in question for the transport of provisions by a Swansea firm whose own lorry was being repaired by the defendants. The defence was that the advice of the department had been acted upon.
B20 The Ministry circular mentioned contained, it was said, a paragraph to the effect that a motor trader might legally hire out, or loan, a lorry bearing, a general trade number and licence to a customer, providing it was to replace a vehicle under repair. The magistrates reserved their decision.
Dean is Bros. Report.
The report of the' directors of Dennis Bros. Ltd., for the year ended September 34th 'shows a profit of £122,552, to which mustbe added the sum of £19,315 carried forward from the previous year.
The directors have transferred 235,000 to the general reserve, whilst dividend and bonus commitments, which total 18 per cent. for the year, absorb £90,148, leaving £16,718 to be cartied forwaxd.
The company's accounts reveal a particularly healthy state of affairs, and since the profits have increased from £87,285 in the year ended September, 192-3, to £122,552 for the following year, an indication of the revival which 1S -taking place in the motor industry is afforded.
The Demand for Reo Vehicles.
Harris and Hasell, Ltd., of Bristol, and 130, Great Portland Street, London, W.1, ask us to point out to their customers who are waiting for delivery oi Reo Speed Wagons, for which they are sole concessionnaires in this country, that unforeseen delay has occurred in connection with shipments. Tltis is partly due to demand, and also to the introduction of new models at the factory, but more particularly to the fact that the average number of orders takea in the United Kingdom has more than trebled during the past two months.
A new club, known as the Engineering and Scientific Club, has been established in Wolverhampton, at Old Post Office Building, Queen Street, Wolverhampton.
Presentation to Lieut.-Col. • . Ivor Fraser.
Lieut.-Col. Ivor Fraser has, for a considerable time, controlled the publicity department of the Underground Railways of London, including the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and a portion of London's tramway system. He has recently severed his connection with the Underground Group, and has accepted the post of joint manager of the Morning Post newspaper. .
The editors of seven London technical journals, desiring to show how much they appreciated. the help which he hau always given them in their work, and the tact and courtesy which he had ever shown..ie hierelations with them, invited him to lunch on November 21st, at the Royal 'Automobile Club, and they also invited the chairman of the Underground Railways, the Right. Hon. Lord Ash
field of Southwell,• and some of Colonel Fraser's old colleagues, amongst these being Mr. F. Pick (a director of the various companies), Mr. A. L. Barber (the commercial manager), Mr. G. J. Shave (chief engineer and operating manager of the L.G.O.C.), Mr. C. .J. Spencer (tramways), Mr. J. P. Thomas (railways), and Mr. W. W. Howells (publicity).
The hosts 'included the editors of the following papers :—The Commercial Motor, Electric Railway and Tramway Journal, Modern Transport, Motor Transport, Railway Gazette, Railway Magazine, and Tramway World. The Editor a The Commercial Motor, -who was in the chair, made the presentation which consisted of a pair of very beautiful silver candelabra made in 1760, together with a small bound address signed by each of the donors.. Colonel Fraser charmingly replied.
The Editor of Modern Transport proposed the toast of "Our Guests, to which Lord Ashfield replied in a speech which was partly devoted to his expression of appreciation of the technical Press, and partly to an appreciation of the work of Colonel Fraser. He said that they had had one or two losses front the staff (having in mind, of course, Mr. H. E. Blain) but he regarded it. rather as a compliment to the Underground Railways that its best men should be sought by other industrial concerns. The gathering closed with a toast to the Chairman, proposed by Mr. Frank Pick.
Tank Wagons for the L.C.C.
The London County Council recently sought tenders for the supply , of two conduit-flushing tank wagons for use by the tramways committee, and received tenders from Clayton Wagons, Ltd., the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co., Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd., Atkinson and Co., Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., Sentinel Waggon Works (1920), Ltd. Electromobile, Ltd., General Vehicle CO., Ltd. Electric Cars, Ltd., and Walker Vehicles, Ltd. The Council has accepted the tender of the Yorkshire Co., amounting to £1,870 for two undertype wagons.
German Exports Falling.
The present year has, so far, witnessed a serious falling off in the German export trade in commercial motor vehicles, the official returns for the eight months ended August last showing a total of only 550 vehicles as compared with 1,066 in the corresponding period of 1923. Holland is the best market for German machines, being responsible for 115 of the total, North Russia being second in the list with 57, followed by Spain with 38, then Argentine and Finland 36 each, and Sweden 20.
During the same period the number of commercial vehicles imported into Germany advanced from 309 to 337, the majority being supplied by the United States.
Newport Bus Finance.
A statement as to the financial position of the Newport (Mon.) Corporation bus services, which has just been issued, covers the period for thesix months ended September 30th. During this time £2,409 was expended on the services and the receipts amounted to £2,109, the deficit, therefore, being £300. The :expenditure includes an item of £414 for general repairs and maintenance, the amount provided under this heading being at the approximate rate of 2d. per bus-mile, but the actual amount spent under this heading to date is less than £200.
Nottingham's One-way Traffic.
Attempts to solve problems in relation to traffic difficulties have been made in Nottingham within the, last few days, with eminently satisfactory results, plans having been, put into operation under which mechanically propelled and other vehicles are permitted to proceed in One direction only in certain central thoroughfares. These include Clumber Street and Bridlesmith Gate, where the congestion, due to the narrowness of roadways, has constituted a sOurce of danger.
These streets have been, hitherto, rendered almost incapable of improvement by reason of the heavy cost which would be entailed, and a practical solution of the difficulty has been found by the adoption of a one-way traffic plan.
Securing Public Safety.
Consequent upon the increase in the use of motor vehicles for passenger-carrying purposes, the Nottingham Corporation proposes, in a Bill which it intends to promote in the next Parliamentary session, to obtain the insertion of a clause giving it authority to prohibit the filling with petrol of public motor conveyances whilst they are occupied by passengers. The Nottingham authorities are also endeavouring to secure
owers requiring, as a condition of their
powers 'licensing any motor omnibus or other
motor hackney carriage, that the construction thereof shall be such as the corporation may approve.
W. T. Underwood's Report.
The report of the directors of W. T. Underwood Ltd., of Clowne, Derbyshire —a company whose bus activities are well known in the provinces—shows a profit for the year ended September 30th of £6,058, out of which sum £1,830 is absorbed, by the payment of a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, less tax. Of the remaining sum, £3,000 is placed to reserve, leaving £1,228 to be carried forward. The reserve fund, by the way, now stands at £5,000.
It is stated in the report that the past year has again witnessed considerable developments in the company's business. Their latest vehicles have been notably improved in design and appearance, and a considerable number of pneumatictyred vehicles has been provided in order to give faster and more comfortable travel. It is their intention to place additional buses of this type in service during the forthcoming year. Considerable additions to the repair" facilities of the company at their chief depot at Clowns are nearing completion.
German Show Agin Put Back.
Already once postponed, the date of the annual German Motor Show in Berlin has again been changed from December 5th-14th to December 10111-181h, the reason for the alteration being that the German general election has been fixed for December 7th.
Lights on Vehicles.
The County Councils' Association has decided again to urge upon the Government the necessity for the early introduction of legislation dealing with the whole subject of lights on road vehicels. Oxford's Traffic Problem.
Oxford Watch Committee reports that, in view of the great and increasing congestion caused by motor traffic in the city, it has had inquiries made from other towns in order to ascertain in what way the problem is tackled. It is found that some method of public parking is usually resorted to, and that this has been carried out in such a manner as to give general satisfaction and reasonable efficiency. This procedure has been tentatively carried out in Oxford to date, but the committee considers that more
definite plans should be organized. It proposes, therefore, that official public parking places should be provided for cars and chars-A.-banes, with properly appointed officials in attendance, and that a scale of fees should be prepared.
The Lyons Fair in 1925.
Mr. J. A. Victor, 77a, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4, who is the official British representative for the organizers of the Lyons Sample Pair, advises us that the next fair of this kind is to be held from March 2nd to 15th next year, and that it will contain exhibits of upwards of 20 different countries—especially those of the manufacturing countries of Western Europe, Over 300 exhibitors participated in this year's fair, and it is anticipated that this number will be exceeded next year. Further particulars concerning the Fair can be -obtained from the address. we have already given.
Buses for Dublin ?
The Dublin United Tramways Co. are seeking powers to institute motor omnibus services to districts outside the Capital, and when the Bill was recently considered in committee it was suggested that the bits services might eventually . completely supersede the tramway system, so that the corporation's option of purchasing the latter in about. 15 years' time would be nullified.
The general manager of the tiamways contended that, buses could never deal with the traffic in the narrow streets of the city.
Underground Staff Meeting.
The second staff meeting of the Underground and London General Omnibus Companies was held a few days ago, when 800 members of the administrative and supervisory staff attended, this being the largest assembly of its kind in the history of the companies.
Mr. J. P. Thomas, the operating manager (railways), was the chairman for the evening, and an interesting paper entitled " Schedules : Their Relation to Traffic and Labour Problems," was delivered by Mr. J. B. MacKinnon, lantern slides and films being used to-illustrate it. Unic Motors Report.
The report of the directors of Unie Motors, Ltd., for the year ended July 31st last reveals a profit of £38,617 as against £28,336 in the previous 12 months. A dividend is again being paid on the preference shares, but no distribution is being made on the ordinary shares, the balance which remains after the former has been met being placed against trade-mark and goodwill, thereby reducing that item to £75,977.
Buses Ousting Trams in Lanarkshire.
Many instances have of late come to light where municipal authorities are substituting trolley-buses or petrol buses for tramcars, and so rapidly has mechanical transport developed in some districts that the continued existence of tramway services is Seriously threatened. This is certainly the case in Lanarkshire, and especially. in Motherwell, for the Lanarkshire Tramways Co., Ltd., have already given evidence of their recognition of the trend of modern develop merits by placing a number of b,usea on the road to link up outlying districts with the tramway services.
The company have of late had to contend with a certain amount of competition over their tramway system, and many enterprising owners are running vehicles from Motherwell to outlying districts. The company acknowledge the potentialities of the road motor, so much so that they have recently taken over a large piece of ground near their power station at Motherwell for the purpose of erecting a garage which is intended to ace&nmodate 400 motorbirses. It is stated that an order for 100 buses has already been placed.
A French Ex-nbition The Department of Overseas Trade advises us that an Exhibition of Hydraulic Power and Touring is to be held at Grenoble from May to October next year. The exhibition will enjoy the official patronage of the French Government and is to be organized by the. Municipality and Chamber of Commerce with the support a the interested industries. Its general aim will be to show the great progress which has been .made during recent years in the use of hydraulic power, not only in the production and. distribution of electricity, but in its adaptation to the needs of domestic life and transport.
United Kingdom concerns will be able to exhibit in the general buildings, one • of which is classified as a transportation section. Copies of the general syllabus B22 may be obtained on application to the Exhibition and Fairs Divisien, Depart-. ment of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, SAVA.
Concessions to Postmen.
At a meeting cif the West. Bridgford Urban District Council a request was made by the postmaster of Nottingham for special travelling facilities for postmen, and the committee decided to allow postmen in uniform to travel on the motorbuses at halfpenny fares until the end of this month.
Municipal Vehicles in Germany.
The recent conference of German municipal street cleansing managers in Hanover was made the occasion for a display of motor vehicles constructed for various municipal purposes. Amongst others, machines were exhibited by the Krupp, Benz, M.A.N., Vornag and Daimler concerns. It is expected that, as a result of the demonstration of the utility of these machines, there will he a marked increase in the nee of municipal motors in Germany in the near future.
Right-band Drive for Uruguay.
Under a new regulation which has' just been adopted in Uruguay no motor vehicle with left-hand steering will be accepted for registration after March 5th next.
• Bedford's Ambulance Service.
Bedford Corporation reports that during tte year ended October 31st last the motor ambulance was used for the conveyance of patients on 207 occasions and that the distance travelled was 2,309 miles, Fordson Tractor Progress.
Since the first tractor was shipped by the Ford Motor Co. from their works in America to the British Ministry of Munitions seven years ago 435,000 machines of this type are stated tci— have been produced. The capacity of the tractor plant in Detroit, U.S.A., is now said to be 400 per day.
Joint Bus Licensing.
At a meeting of the Paignton Urban District Council a sub-committee appointed for the purpose reported that it had met representatives ofthe Totnes Town Council and the Briicham Urban Distriat Council, when it was considered desirable that joint action should be taken by the local authorities concerned . when dealing with applications for licences for motor omnibuses. Tractors in Belgium.
The number of tractors in use in Belgium at the end of 1923 did net exceed 3,500, The use of tractors in Antwerp for hauling purposes waS practieally•unknown up to the beginning of the year 1923, whereas today at least one-third of the hauling thine at the port is accomplished by such vehicles.
Tractors for farm purposes have not much of a field, because of the small area of Belgian farms and the inability of the majority of the farmers to purchase expensive equipment, but for road work they have considerable facilities. The principal tractors in use in Belgium are of American, French, Belgian and German manufacture, Pointers on Maintenance.
Major E. G. Beaumont the transport engineer to the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., recently read an interesting paper " The. Maintenance of Commercialvehicle Fleets" at a meeting of the members of the Scottish centre of the Institution of Automobile Engineers.
Major Beaumont made it clear that it was of primary importance to all engaged
in the management of industrial vehicles that the utilization of the fleet, considered collectively and in detail, should be known with accuracy. He said that the successful operation of a fleet called for a good system of records in order to ,secure proper use of the vehicles and adequate maintenance.
Major Beaumont pointed to the fact that, other things being equal, the cost of operation and the cost of transport depended upon the rate of working more than anything else, He said that the establishment of effective technical inspection was regarded as an essential part of any maintenance organization.
Leicester's Congested Traffic.
Concurrently with a vast increase in mechanically propelled traffic, Leicester, in common with many other of the older Midland towns, has • suffered severely through the inadequate capacity of many of its principal thoroughfares. Two efforts have been made to secure the adoption of schemes, involving applications for Parliamentary powers, to mitigate these evils, but both projects were rejected at town's meetings.
The council has, however, since taken steps to carry out part of the scheme of street widening, but much remains to be effected.
At a recent statutory meeting the newly elected mayor, Mr. Herbert Simpson, described the principal streets as being not only dangerous, but the level crossings as constituting, is many cases, veritable death-traps.
Testing Traffic Beacons.
The works committee of the Brentford Urban District Council reports having. considered correspondence with the Gas Accumulator Co , makers and patentee's of the beacon lights which the Commissioner of Police has suggested should be placed at the intersections of the Great West Road with Boston Park and Ealing Road. The company are prepared to supply and erect the beacons and maintain them for a period of six months without charge to the council, but if they function satisfactorily during the, period of trial the council is to consider the question of purchase. The estimated cost of the beacon lights is from £27 to £30, and the annual cost of maintenance about £5. The committee observes that similar beacons have been fixed on some sections of the road, and their suitability for traffic warning and regulation purposes has been effectually demonstrated. It recommends the erection of a beacon light at Ealing Road junction on trial, as suggested by the company.
The Lorry Market in Belgium.
The number of motor lorries in use in Belgium at the end of last year was about 22,000. Very large quantities of motor vehicles were left in Europe as the property of the various • Allied Governments after the war, and a great many of these are still in use. The relatively high cost of American lorries has deterred importation to a considerable extent. The use of lorries in Belgium is growing, however, and the opportunity for sales campaigns upon the part of manufacturers and exporters of motor lorries would seem to be progressively increasing. A heavy-dul,y British lorry should find no difficulty in competing with foreign-made lorries at present offered in the Belgian market.
Newport's Bus Intentions.
At a meeting of the tramways committee of the Newport (Mon.) corporation it was reported that the watch committee had decided to recommend the grant of an application for licences to operate motor omnibus services between Newport and Croesyceilog via Caerleon, and between Newport and Usk via Caerleon, respectively, subject to similar conditions, with necessary changes, as were attached to other omnibus services running from the county into the borough. • The committee decided that the applicant for the licences be informed that the corporation is applying for power to operate motor omnibuses on the routes named, and proposes to exercise the power when obtained.
London Dock Traffic Delay.
It is made clear in the recently issued report of the Port Facilities Committee, appointed by the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom, acting in conjunction with representatives of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and of the Federation of British Industries, that the roadways in the vicinity of the Victoria, Albert and King George V Docks are very largely congested by the requirements of the contiguous rail traffic, and that much delay is thereby occasioned. The sub-committee recognizes that this is largely due to their location, but It expresses the view that it should be possible to devise some means of pre venting road traffic from being held up as it is, both by the railways and by the restricted nature of the ingress to and the exit from some of the berths, owing to the traffic having to pass over lock gates, which may or may not be open. The committee is clearly cognizant of the hindrances to road traffic which at present exist.
Bar mar Service.
Barimar Ltd., 14-18, Lamb's Conduit Street, London, W.C.1, remind us that repairs to scored cylinders are carried out, not only at their London depot, but also at the Barimar service depots in Newcastle, Manchester. Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow. The company also advise us that such repairs can generally be completed within one day.
Municipal Parcels Service?
In addition to the application made in its -new Parliamentary Bill for permission to establish a huge central park.: bog place for motor vehicles, the Newport Corporation has applied for the right to build waiting-rooms, cloak-rooms and shelters for bus and tram passengers, and also for _powers to institute general luggage and parcel delivery services by road motor.
Aerial Buses for Paris.
The problem of road traffic in Paris has become so acute that the transport sub-committee of the Municipal Council has just authorized the construction of an experimental line for the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of an overhead system of transport. The line is to be 4 miles in length and will extend beyond the city boundary north of the Care du Nord to St. Denis. The rail is to be built at a height of 45 ft. above ground-level and it will be supported by, and run between, columns placed 150
metres apart. • The cars will be suSpended from the rail and driven by electrically controlled propellers. It is interesting to note that they are to be constructed of Duralumin, and shaped at the front so as to reduce air resistance. It is intended that each car s7iall accommodate up to 100 persons.
Road Adaptation Charges.
Having heard a deputation from the Hyde Town Council and the Stalybridge, Mossley and Dukinfield Tramways Board, in reference to the Board's proposals for running motor omnibuses, the highways committee of Cheshire now recommends the county council to waive the condition recently made that the Board should contribute towards the cost of adapting the routes upon, which it is proposed to run the .vehicles in question.
Eastern Counties' Report.
The report of the directors of the Eastern Counties Road Car Co Ltd shows that the net traffic receipts and other revenues on the company's passenger vehicles, before providing for corporation profits tax, but after providing for renewals, amounted to £16,752. After deducting administration and general expenses, there is a surplus of £10,335, making, with £4,994 brought forward from the previous year, less corporation profits tax for that year, a total of £15,329. Of this sum, £500 is transferred to reserve and a .dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares absorbs £8,591, leaving £6,238 to be carried forward.
At the sixth ordinary general meet
ing . of the company the chairman reviewed the activities of the company. He said that in 1919 they commenced operations with twelve 36-seater vehicles of a type which soon proved to be unsuitable for traffic requirements, and today the company own and operate 49 buses, of which 18 are 51-seaters. During these five years over 10 million passengers have been carried, and more than five million miles have been run by the vehicles. In 1919, they were operating on four routes only, with a total mileage of 46, whereas, to-day, 23 services are being run, and the route mileage totals 460..
A Leeds Bus Decision.
The Leeds Corporation Watch Com mittee has approved the recommendation of a special sub-committee to the effect that omnibuses running into the city should be stopped at the city boundary, or at the point nearest to it at which they came into contact with any of the Corporation's passenger-carrying services.
The view taken by the Corporation is that this decision will relieve the congestion of traffic in the city streets.
Fire-engines for Manchester District. With reference to the illustration and paragraph concerning light fire-engines for municipal use, which appeared on page 436 of our last issue, Tom Garner. Ltd., of Manchester, ask us to make a slight correction, and to state that the three 25-cwt. Oily chassis referred to were converted for fire-engine work by John Morris and Sons, Ltd., of Salford, who supplied .them to the Alexandria Municipality and Main Urban District Council. They were photographed outside the Manchester showrooms of Tom Garner, Ltd., who are the sole distributors for Guy commercial vehicles for Lancashire and Cheshire.
Increasing Orders for Motor Ships.
The motor ship has firmly established itself as a more economical type of craft than the steamer, and orders for oilengined ships continue to be placed in increasing numbers. Informative par
ticulars of several of the latest of these vessels are given in the December issue of The Motor Ship, including illustrated details of the 14,000-ton motor liner Monte Sarmiento." The issue contains many articles dealing with m4atiar ship power units and also an interesting description of the Flettner rotor ship written by its inventor.
London to Bristol by Bus., Newbury Watch Committee has granted licences to the Greyhound Motors, Ltd., for two buses required for use in connection with a daily road service between Bristol and London. Brief particulars of this enterprise were published in our issue for November 18th.
Drivers' Addresses Wanted.
We shall be glad if "R.D.E.," of Newton-le-Willows, and "F.C.S.," of Hamble, will send their full names and addresses to the Editor, so that payment can be made for their contributions which were published under the heading of "Useful Ideas on Ignition" in our issue for November 18th.
Local Proceedings.
York City Council is inviting tenders for the supply of two 18-20-seater oneman-controlled petrol buses.
Bexhill Corporation reports delivery of the Pagefield motor wagons, which are now in use for refuse collection. • West Bridgford Urban District Council has purchased a motor lorry for refuse collection at a cost of £590.
Merthyr Tydfil Corporation is considering the purchase of a 30-cwt. motor lorry for the highways department.
Bedford Corporation Highways Committee recommends the purchase of a 30-cwt. petrol lorry at a cost of £450.
Merthyr Corporation, which recently inaugurated a municipal bus service, reports a profit on the service of £199 for the first seven weeks.
'Whitley and Monkseaton Urban District Council has asked the surveyor to obtain quotations for the supply of a new motor ambulance.
Trowbridge Urban District Council has deferred, for the present, the question of the purchase of a motor mower pusher for use in the park.
Merthyr Tydfil Corporation has purchased a reconditioned tipping lorry from Messrs. 'Turner and Morgan? of Newport, at a cost of £302 10s.
Whitley and Monkseaton Urban District Council has asked the surveyor to secure quotations for the supply of a small type of motor fire-engine.
The Cardiff City Council has decided to purchase a Morris-Magirus petroldriven turntable fire escape at a cost of £2,400, plus £200 for the essential accessories.
The local authorities at NOrthallerton are considering the establishment of a joint fire brigade, and a demonstration was given a few days ago of the capabili• ties of a Leyland fire-engine.
The 13-edwas and Maclaen Urban District Council's motor omnibus, service yielded a profit of £571 for the financial year ended. 31st March last, i.e., equivalent to a threepenny rate for the area.
At a meeting of the Dorchester Town Council a letter was received from Mr. C. Jeanes, applying for licences in respect of motor services from Mappowder to Dorchester, via Buckland Newton and Piddlehinton, twice daily, and sealed licences were issued subject to proper formal applications being Triode and to the bus being inspected and approved.