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Taxicab Races a Train.
A few days ago, personal and other luggage, which had been left behind by a gentleman, who went by train from Bristol to Southampton, in order to catch a boat for India, was subsequently despatched by taxicab in an effort to overtake the owner. In this, the attempt was successful; the taxicab travelled the eighty miles in both directions without an involuntary stop-16o miles in all.
French Taxicab Tarilfs.
The new regulation as to tariff display is to come into force on the isth April ; this affects the tariffs for hire within and without the boundary of the city of Paris. The two tariffs are to be distinctly marked on the taximeter flag, the ground of which is to be painted white, and, instead of having the word "fibre" painted upon it, the two tariffs in force will be clearly marked.
More Taxies for Birmingham.
The Provincial Motorcab Company has been granted licenses for ten more taxicabs, in addition to the 20 already in service, by the Birmingham Watch Committee. The Judicial Subcommittee recommended that this further application should only be acceded to upon the distinct understanding that at least two-thirds of the total number of taxicabs licensed should ply for hire on the public stands, Complaint has been made that the company has hitherto been carrying out a large proportion of its business on private contract from the garage.
The opinion of the Committee is that, if licenses are granted for taxicabs, these vehicles shall actually be available in the public streets at all limes. • The local manager of the Provincial Motor Cab Company at Cambridge received, without delay, last week, a curious order for a taxicab from an outlying village ; the envelope containing the order came through the post addressed as follows :—" To the Manager of a Motor Car Garage (where ears can be hired), Cambridge."
Austin Cabs for India The Longbridge Works, Northfield, near Birmingham, has for some months past been working at high pressure in its endeavour to keep the production abreast of the demand for vehicles and chassis, amongst which orders are many for the excellent t5h.p. Austin tnotorcah. Three views of the latest 1511.p. model are given herewith and these show one of the cabs as they are now being turned out for use in the Colonies and India. The body is provided with sheet-steel panels and removable metal beading, the latter being secured to the framework of the body by means of neat screws. In the event of any one panel's being damaged by collision, it may be removed and replaced by a new one, or, if not too badly damaged, repaired and refitted. The window frames are provided with springloaded guide bars, the use of which entirely prevents the rattle that is usually such an objectionable feature of landaulet bodies. The off-side front window has a leather-shuttered hole, about four inches in diameter, through which a passenger may communicate with the driver without leaning over out of a side window.
The comfort of the driver has been well considered by Mr. Austin, who has designed and fitted a sort of " Cape-cart-hood " extension, from the body of the cab, as far forward as the dashboard ; this hood may be folded back quite flush with the front of the body, when not needed as a protection against inclement weather.
The 'finish of the vehicle is far ahead of anything now in public service in London, although the price of the complete motorcab is less than that charged by some builders for ve
hicles of 'ordinary finish. The cab which we illustrate is the first of a large order for shipment to India, and other machines will shortly be sent to Spain, Rio de Janeiro, and other parts of the world.
The chassis is of exactly the same type as those employed by Urban Taxicabs, Limited, to which company's operations we referred in our issue of the 4th ultimo.