1926-04-21 — Page 8

THE * HONGKONG · DAILY -- PRESS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21ST, 1926

No

other tyre will give you the same safety. mileage & comfort

as

DUNLOP

CORD BALLOON TYRES

BRITISH BEST

and

They cost no more than other Tyres.

Local Branch Office:

18a, Des Vœux Road.

Tel. C. 4534.

Distributors: Hongkong Hotel Garage.

[A.P.B]

What happens to your Car when it's in the Garage?

The Garage for your Car or Motor Bicycle. THE DURO MOTOR GARAGE.

[A.P.B.).

The only garage

in Kowloon under constant

European Supervision.

Give your Car the Best Accomodation,

CARS

132,

Nathan Road.

SINCER 10/26 H.P.

#

Tel. K226

CARS

BRITISH THROUGHOUT

AGENTS:

GILMAN & Co., Ltd.

4a, Des Voeux Road.

SPECIAL OFFER at a REDUCED PRICE.

3 H.P. MOTOR- CYCLE

$350.00

STOCK AND SPARE PARTS ON. HAND. EASY TERMS CAN BE ARRANGED,

LEYSECO CHINA CO., LTD.

PHOST: C. 1241.

114]

4TH FLOOE, BANK OF CANTOS BUILDING, 6, Des Vaux ROAD CUSTRAL

[1.7.5.].

SOCONY

MOTOR OILS

AND

GASOLINE

Motoring Notes:

A Weekly

Review dealing with matters of interest to all local motorists.

[BY AN OWNER-DRIVER.]

Ed. Note: EACH. WEDNESDAY THESE COLUMNS WILL BE ÒCCC-

PIED BY A SERIES OF NOTES WRITTEN EXCLU SIVELY FOR THE" DAIZT PRESS" BY A LOCAL MOTORIST. THESE NOTES WILL NOT ONLY DEAL WITH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION, BUT WILL CONTAIN HINTS AND SUG- GESTIONS FOR THE BETTER RUNNING AND MORE ECONOMICAL UPKEEP OF CARS, BASED UPON LONG › PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF DRIVING IN THIS COLONY. THEY SHOULD," THEREFORE, PROFF OF READ. PRAC- TICAL FALUE.

THE SCENERY.

There is abundant evidence that all over the world the number of motor-car Let the would-be owner of a car take owners is increasing. Hongkong is no courage and be quite sure that he will exception to this general rule. If the never regret purchasing a car, at what rate of increase in the numbers is not ever sacrifice of other creature comforts. so great in this Colony as in some other places, it is certain that the increase in numbers will continue.

The summer is coming: the moist hot days will soon be here. There is only one way to make sure of a healthy sleep during those hot summer, hights. "It`ia by taking in a good supply of oxygen. while running around the island or the New Territory Think of the wonderful scenery that will impress its beauty upon your jaded mind. Think of the cool

of office routine. There is only one way of that change from the dull monotony to keep really fit in this Colony. It is own a car,

THE LOCAL AMATEUR MOTORIST.

(Contributed.)

ALLEGED PIRACY CONSPIRACY BY RUSSIANS AT SHANGHAL.'"`

SOVIET VICE-CONSUL ON SA

· WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST.. Seven. Russians are being tried in the Mixed Court at Shanghai on a charge that they were concerned together as the International Settlemens at Shanghai in an attempt to commit piracy in respect of a Russian steamship named Okhotsk anchored at Woosung. Briefly outlining the charges against all the accused. Mr. Maitland. the Police Prosecutor, said:

This practically amounts to a conspiracy to seize the White' steamer Okhotsk which is at present in possession of General Gleboff at Woosung. The first, second and third accused are also charged with being in possession of arms, and all are charged with being undesirables".

it is pleasant to be able to record an increased activity on the part of the local ALA: Much of the work that is done is of such a nature that ordinary members. are unaware, of it. At the same time there are certain facts that should persuade every car owner that it is his duty to hecome a member. The new scheme for It transpired in the course of the hear free technical advice, and free legal ing that a warrant had been issued for advice is a step in the right direction. the arrest of a man named Minsky who In each case there is a nominal regin was described as "doing Vice-Consul's tration fee of one dollar: so that the work" at the Soviet Consulate where a bonorary secretary may not be unduly Russian detective was in hiding.

Mr. Maitland asked the Court to re- worried by people who might send in

hand applications for advice about petty quest the Soviet Consulate to Minsky over to the Mixed' Court. affairs.

Dr. Fischer, who is appearing for the The free technical advice will probably Preve of more interest to owner drivers accused men, raisect the question as to than to those who have paid drivers. It is very often only some trivial fault whether the Court could issue a warrant in the mechanism that prevents the car against a Consular Official in Shanghai. "pulling" "properly. An expert сад The Assessors intimated that the Court immediately detect the fault.

would consider the application.

There is the story of the local owner

In a letter to the focal Russian paper,....

Those who do not possess a car always cherish the hope, that the day is not

driver who had successfully passed Minsky, who signa hmiself "Vice-Consul far distant when they will be owners.

through the stage of practising under Further, those who do possess a car

tuition, at the Happy Valley. He went of U.S.S.R.. states that until he read are always trying to make up their

through the ardeal of the Government the report of the proceedings he was minds as to the particular type and make i breezes near the edge of the sea. Think test, a representative of the Traffic De-enaware of the issue of a warrant against of car they will purchase when the time

accompanied him for a drive, and the him. partment of the Hongkong Police Force official was quite satisfied that the steer- ing of the car and the gear changing efforts showed the requisite proficiency,

comes for them to have a new one.

Everyone is therefore interested in ang discussion about the best car for use in Hongkong.

SECOND-HAND CARS. The solution of the problem is not quite so simple as it may seem to the non-technical man. You cannot say that the Blank car, costing so many thousands of dollars, is the best car for this Colony, It all depends on the use that is to be

made of the car.

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN HONGKONG

가

It is often said that it is more difficuls to drive a car in this Colony than in the most congested parts of the City of Londra. For in the Metropolis the other drivers and the pedestrians and the traffic regulators are far less exasperating.

We will leave that matter as one that

Victoria.

danger is the removal of the posts. If The most obvious remedy for this that cannot be done at once what is there that prevents the use of white paint or even whitewash ?

Let us first of all state a few general can be argued indefinitely. What is a facts. It may be accepted as an axiom fact that cannot be denied, is this: that if you want a really good article There are many posts-telephone posts, you must pay a relatively good price. lamp posts, etc., which get in the way You may be lucky enough to pick up of the unwary driver in the City of a bargain in second-hand cars, although you may also be unfortunate enough to make a bad bargain. It requires an expert to assess the value of a second hand car. In England the Automobile Association will supply the expert and you may obtain his verdict for a reason-.. able figure which is about two or three guineas. It is money that is well spent Genuine bargains are usually obtained when an owner has to sell hurriedly.

BARGAINS.

Car

In England there are motorists who make a practice of having a new each year. They make a great hobby of the motor-car and they will have the latest and most up-to-date equipment.

Any object, that is a possible source of danger should be made white so that the driver may see it easily.

That principle has been recognised in many places and many a nasty road accident has been prevented by the use of a white-wash brush on walls and racks in this Colony.

We suggest that the practice should be extended so as to include the lapp-posts and the telephone posts.

Of course, we should like to see the

FINDING A FAULT.

25

Sin the local owner driver was duly licensed aft and proper person

this Colony. In to drive a car in cidentally it may be mentioned that, in England, there is no such test. That, however, is no reason for abolishing the test in Hongkong.

*

He says he has freely moved out of the Consulate whenever he desired to do so, and he announces that I as Vice- Consul for the U.S.S.R., do not need to hide; my position guarantees my per- Bonal inviolability even in such a when a group of Russian White guards wishes to connect my name with an un- successful attempt at provocation."

SOVIET CONSUL'S PROTEST.. Comrade F. V. Linde, the Soviet Con- aul, in a letter to the same paper says:- The great day came when, accompanied Neither I the Ambassador of U.S.S.R. by his family, paterfamilias, the proud to China-citizen Karukhan-nor even the owner-driver, went forth for the first time presentative of the Chinese Republe in the Province of Kiangsu have been in- 4s a fully pledged motorist. He was as pleased to be without his friend the formed of the proposed arrest of Vice- instructor as is the schoolboy who can Consul Minsky. When it is taken into

that shake of the presence of the school consideration

citizen Minsky possesses a Diplomatic Passport issued master,

Away went the car and its delighted to him by the Peoples Commissar for to include Foreign Affairs of U.S.S.I. such action occupants. The tour was

Half way along that becomes perfectly incomprehensible. Queen's Road. very public thoroughfare the car stopped. Thus those who issued the order for The one-time happy owner-driver sudden Minsky's arrest, deprived the only com- y realised that a very little thing makes petent authorities in China from adopt- all the difference between that delightfuling adequate measures for the protection of the interests. of an official representa- feeling of exhiliration which comes to the new owner-driver and that peculiar tive of U.S.S.R. feeling of fear of the unknown which happens when a car stops suddenly for no reason that is apparent.

YOU MUST-REMEMBER.

Behold then paterfamiliar and the family stuck in Queen's Road, not too to do? Try the self-starter. Then came the memory of the instructor's warning ***Don't forget," about the self-starter.

I must energetically protest against such regulations established by the Shang- hm Mixed Court,

I must also protest against all attempts that may be made by the Shanghai Mixed Court, to define the rights of the U.S.S.R. Consuls in China. Such defini tion may be undertaken only by the re- Government of the Chinese Republic in the manner prescribed by these two coun-

Last year it was the four-wheel braking roadway" entirely cleared of all these near to the edge of the pavement. What presentative of my Government and the

year is

The

traps for the anwary.

had said that very practical man on

tries.

system that distinguished the new models.

There have been cases in which the Every year there is some new attraction. If the purse permits, a new car cach driver has had the choice of colliding

The foregoing should have been taken a great delight. Like most of with a post or knocking down a pedes the pleasures of this life, it has to be trian. That usually happens because the more than one occasion- Don't forget more seriously into consideration, as my pedestrians of Hongkong seem to take that the battery is the weakest part of Government has pointed out on several paid for..

the whole show. Never use your self-starter occasions to the Mixed Court that even In this Colony. there is not the same a delight in doing the unexpected.

An ingenious student of things Chinese too much. If you do you will quickly private citizens of U.S.S.R. do not come craze for a new car cach" year.

has suggested that pedestriana purposely discharge your battery and if you dis- under the jurisdiction of the Mixed Court, fush across the road, as near as can be charge the battery too much it will or by virtue of the treaties existing between to the radiator. The idea is that if they peter out. And a new battery will cost just clear then the devils are cut off by you something like a hundred dollars. Government and China.

Poor paterfamilias had felt the strain of The corallary presumably is that if the purchase of the car too much to be the pedestrian does not clear the eat able to forget that a new battery costs time, then the devils get him!

bargains in second-hand cars are picked up when people leave the Colony, either for some other place in the Far East

or for home leave. :

If you can be sure of the history of the car. -- the car, you may be able to pick up a bargain in second-hand cars. Those who cannot obtain reliable advice and who have no knowledge of cars will probably do better if they buy a new car

THE IDEAL CAR.

What then is the ideal car for Hong kong Four, five or seven seaters are popular. The two-seater," sometimes

much in demand.

called "The disabliger,' is not very

WIDER BOADS.

in

about one hundred dollars.

of the local authorities of the Chinese Consuls of U.S.S.R. are representatives. Hepublic and not to the authorities of the Settlement."

Him, runs to the back of the tank and the

Therefore he tried the effect of using the self-starter only for a minute or so There has been a lull in the activities and then he (wisely), gave it up. He It is not too much to say that," sooner. of those whose duty it is to make road decided that it was no use taking risks, or later, nearly every owner driver is to extremes and in the end it is often improvements. Economy can be carried with the battery.

caught with an empty petrol tin. Fre He got out of the car and lifted up quently it is on a hill that the petrol false economy. There are so many road the bonnet. Jane and John two of the peters out, especially if the gravity improvements that are urgent in this children, asked the usual questions which system of petrol feed is used. The petrol Colony that H.E, the Governor might ask amuse everyone but the driver, There is a connection between price the local Automobile Association, to re: these questions only make more furious outlet pipe is in the front.

Mamma's efforts to keep quiet Jane and The best thing to do, in such a case, and horse-power, although some makers port to him direct upon the subject...

Consider one of the most annoying John merely succeeded in attracting is to turn the car right round and will produce 20 horse-power car at a lower figure than another maker will spizodes of the last few months. There crowd of coolies. The simple act of ucgotiate the hill with the car in reverse produce & 15 hurse-power car. In general, is a very narrow bridge on Robinson lifting the bonnet also had a magnetic gear-unless, of course, you can obtain

There are some petrol from a passer-by. however, the greater the horse-power Road which is above Gleneatly. It is a effect on every passer-by. the higher the initial cost and the more most dangerous place and the bridge thousands of people in Hongkong who

have any amount of leisure. could be widened at very little expense. expensive the cost of running the car.

Robinson Road is one of the worst We will not describe at length how The bills of this Colony are of a steep roads that cars traverse. A few comers the unfortunate owner-driver opened the "gradient. It is possible to negotiate any road on the island with a 11 horse could easily be rounded off, and the road tool-box and swore heatedly at the

made wider and straighter,

coolies who poked their noses into it and power car (English I.A.C. rating), but,

garage Just beyond the bridge mentioned anything else connected with the ear. of course, you must rely on the lower gears more often, than you would have above, going Westward, there is a board. to do if you had a cur of twice the horse-ing and a very sharp corner at the west end of the hoarding. The ground behind power.

That term horse-power is confusing

to the amateur and will be explained fully There are several makes of four and even five scalera that can be purchased in this Colony at round about $2.000 This is not a very big expense for what you get for the money.

on some future 'occasion.

In England the hire-purchase system is very popular. It has enabled many 2 man to obtain a car much earlier than would have been the case if he had compelled to save up for it.

been

"SPARE PARTS.

A WELCOME RELIEF. In the end a good Samaritan, in the

PETROL PUMPS

Which brings to mind the fact that there seem to be only three petrol puraps on this little island available for the general public. There is one at a

near the Post Office; one at Stubba Road garage and one at the Repulse Bay Hotel garage. The police. have their own petrol pump which is a snare and a delusion for the general the boarding has been cleared of build-person of another owner driver, came ings for months. Why not put the along. What's the matter?" was the public. There should surely be a petrol hoarding back a few feet and also in enquiry.Wish to blazes. I knew," said pump near the Hongkong Club or, at any crease the width of the road at the west the very warm owner driver, who had rate, one or two mere pumps in a more end of it where the nasty corner causes been cranking up at intervals, much. central position.

the amusement of the onlookers, It so happens that motorists, rightly many an unpleasant moment for drivers to t

Pluga O.K; asked the and passengers and pedestrians?

Samaritan. Quite, was the laconic particular fancy in the matter of petrol good on wrongly prefer to stick to their own

***Let's look at the carburetor" brands. There is something to be said reply. was the next suggestion, quickly followed for what at first looks like a rather un- by the exclamation Holy Smoke you've reasonablo prejudice, got no petrol":

The composition of petrol varies and

The west end of the Frayn badly needs attention. The pot holes are big enough to remind those who served in France of some of the evils of the war.

THE WORST PLACE A

Now that nowe ought to have been while a car, will run well on one brand Probably the worst place in the Colony acceptable to the exasperated owner. it will not do so well on another unless is just by the Peak Tramway station in. It would have been if the family bad not adjustments are made. The best plan Garden Road. Why the improvements fo been in the car, and if the crowd had for the amateur motorist is this: Obtain There is one thing that any car pur that station were made without giving disappeared However, the petrol was technical advice about the brand of chaser must remember. It is the great premier attention to the road trafic is soon obtained, the tank was filled and petrol you should use; have your engine advantage of having a car that is sold difficult to understand,

the family left the city for the quieter adjusted for that brand and stick to it. in Hongkong. All the reliable, vendors Is it still too late to make any regions of Repulse Bay,"

The local Automobile Association might carry spare parts. If you own a car improvement? The widening of the Of course, it does sound incredible that make recommendations to the local petrol that is not sold by one of the local lower part of Garden Road has been any one should forget to fill up with purveyors that a pump in a good adver agents you will be, at some time, greatly a great boon. Why not make the whole petrol. It happens much more frequently tisement. There might be one at "Aber- inconvenienced because the difficulty of the road beyond the barracks up to than seems possible. **

deen for the convenience; of many," L' about spare parts.

Seth's corner, very much wider.

driver.

(Continued on next Column)