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Commets and Pipers. By " The Extractor." Manchester Show Will Stay.
A welcome companion boarded my train at Preston on the way up to Scotland. Mr. Henry Spurrier, jun., of Leyland Motors, Ltd., was on his way to Glasgow to select. promises for a branch office for Scotland in which to install Mr. Galles wire, as the '' Cal," has already recorded, has now entered their employ. Mr. Gillies is a Scotsman, hat has of recent years earned a great name in the Lancashire commercial-vehicle world. 1 venture to extend to him the best wishes of this journal.
Mr. Spurrier tells me that they
have 100 vehicles on order. I inquired if there were many' fire-engines amongst these, and he smiled enigrnaticalb,. " There are a good many buses," he said.
" Come over to Yoker by all means," said Mr. Russell, the commercial manager of Halley's, but bring an office with you or a stool or something," And then I found that their offices are 'just higgledypiggledy because they are being rebuilt and extended, One can see thc makings of fine suitable offices hero rendered necessary by such an increasing business. At Alley and McLellan's., too, in Glasgow, I found the same brisk atmosphere. gathered from Mr. H. Alley that they have, never had co many Sentinel steam wagons on order as at present. The Silent Sentinel is the latest name for this popular vehicle.
When a popular Irish journalist with a delicious brogue, who has made London his home for many years, refeired to himself as a "cockney" at the Scottish dinner, there was the shout of laughter which no doubt he intelligently anticipated. It brought to my mind the Irishman who was engaged to play romantic parts in what is known as a " fit-up " theatre. He was cast for the part of an Italian Count. The audience followed it all with great interest and sympathy until his closing speech, when he came out with, " And now I will rethorn to me naytive flake."
The grand old man of motoring, Sir John H. A. Macdonald, was in great form as usual and was the recipient of two little gifts from his friends in the Scottish Motor Trades Association. Mr. J. S. Matthew of .Argylls„ Ltd., from the chair, presented a gold cigarette case and a neck-wrap and acquitted himself most excellently in the ceremony. Sir John had a tear in his voice, so greatly did he appreciate this little kindness. Before this, Sir John had explained a discovery of his to the effect that the death rate in London had gone down since the introduction of taxicabs and had temporarily increased only once and that wa-s during the taxi strike.
In the midst of the dinner, which was French in character, a haggis was served with the usual " pomp and circumstance " instituted, or revived at any rate, in Burns's time. The skirl of the pipers is beard outside. and a procession moves gaily round the room in which one observes pipers., cooks and waiters conveying the delectable haggis and its inseparable concomitant-whisky. * The very modern people would call it a " stunt," I suppose ; the more academical would probably term it an " object-lesson ; " but in any case, the street display of Commercars at Edinburgh on 'Wednesday, 2Stli ult., showed how successfully the Lutan concern has invaded Scottish territory. It was a happy idea to hold a Commercar parade during the Scottish Show week, and the fact that they mustered 28 vehicles already in service in the Edinburgh district was an eye-opener to me. A great Timber of trades was represented. Brewers' lorries were mingled with confectionery vans and tobacconists'. Why, I even saw a parking-case maker's lorry laden with empty boxes. Those responsible stage-managed this affair all right. The long tail of lorries, as :saw it, moved along the main arteries, naturally giving Princes Street the lion's share of attention_ The procession just about filled that noble thoroughfare. It would seem that you can do nothing ceremonious in Scotland without the bagpipes. So, of course, the leading vehicle and the hindermost had their complement of pipers, who gaily and lustily alternated the strathspey with the pibroch, and for those who a-re unacquainted with the meaning of these terms (I was until this week) the strathspey is a dance and the pibroch is a war tune. It was a brave and creditable turn-out.
On paper it looks as if there would be no more Manchester Shows ; the voting of the various sections indicates a majority against-the holding of another Show, hut all-the same, if the S.M.M.r. decide to close down with this exhibition, there are evidences or enthusiasm, and, what is more, organization, immediately to take the matter up. -There is something in the blood of the Manchester men calling for an annual motor exhibition, and I go so far as to pre dict that a show will be held. If good business is done at the Show now in progress—and everything points to that desirable result, then the S.M.IVI.T. will doubtless go on with it and the general comment will be " .°1-ieers."