In Public Service.
Page 12
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Northwich has authorized the consideration of estimates for a motor fire-engine.
There are now 230 odd taxicabs in Manchester, compared with some 320 horse-drawn cabs.
Warrington Town Council has accepted the tender of W. A. Stevens, Ltd., Maidstone, for the supply of three motorbuses complete.
Basingstoke Town Council is desirous of obtaining tenders for a motor fire-engine, and these must be lodged by not later than Weduesday next, the 12th inst.
A plebiscite of the ratepayers of Timarn, N ew Zealand, is to be taken upon the question of introducing municipal motorbus service at a cost of about 16000.
The Marrickville Fire Brigades Board (near Sydney, N.S.W.) is about to spend £2500 in providing a petrol motor fire-engine, estimated to cost ;c.:1250, and other appliances.
The total number of licensed motorbuses plying for hire on the London streets on the 28th of las!. month was 2872. This shows an increase of 146 over the preceding month.
There is an opening for a couple of 1110torblises to run between Heworth, Clifton and York. Is it possible that the Tramways Committee of the York Corporation will recognize this fact ?
The 27th annual dinner of the L.G.O.C. coach factory took place at the Horseshoe Hotel on Saturday the 1st inst. Mr. A. Crane was in the chair. During the evening prizes for batting and bowling were presented. The annual Leyland ball was held at the works on Friday night last. Upwards of 1000 persons were present and enjoyed themselves.
Eight county councils, 10 corporations, Is urban district councils. five rural district councils, and 16 companies and others have lodged petitions against the London and South Western Railway Bill.
The last meeting of the Manchester City Council was noteworthy for an apparentconflict of authority between the chairman of the Tramways Committee and the chairman of the Watch Committee. Proposals have been adopted by the Tramways Committee for visits to various cities in the United Kingdom and abroad, for the purpose of the study of traffic conditions, and the later presentation of a report. Exception was taken to this by the chairman of the Watch Committee, as it was held by that gentleman thattraffic regulation had been specifically entrusted to his committee. A motion for the referring back of the proceedings of thc Tramways Corn
mittee Nk as carried, by 48 votes to 31, and the Lord Mayor, Alderman S. W. Royse, suggested that the two chairmen might confer. Not only in Manchester, but in other cities, is the undoubted tendency of tramcar supporters to get the control of traffic matters . becoming more and more liable to involve them in suspicion on the part of other interests.
Gamage-Bell Does Well.
The Gamage-Bell Motor Cab Co., Ltd., for the year ended the 31st December last, shows a gross profit of £18,165. A total of £9798 is written off as depreciation ; other charges leave a disposable balance of £4874. Of this, £3393 is absorbed in the payment of a dividend at the rate of five per cent. per annum, whilst 21481 is carried forward. The result is highly creditable to Mr. Horace Bell.
"The Bully of the Road."
At the North London Police Court, on the 19th ult., Percival John Hutchings. an associate of the RA.C., was summoned for obstructing an L.C.C. tramcar in the Lea Bridge Road. It was admitted that the tramcar had run into the back of the motorcar, and it was suggested that this was caused by the latter being suddenly pulled across in front of the tramcar. Evidence was adduced to show that after striking the motorcar, the tramcar pushed it along for at least 100 yds before coming to a standstill.
The magistrate, Mr. d'Eyncourt, accepted the evidence of the defendant, and dismissed the summons, The defence was by the R.A.C.