Come on, fair's fare

A colleague looking for a parking space in Auckland's Queen St found taxi drivers taking up many of the 15-minute spaces reserved for the public because cab ranks were chock-a-block.

So he flagged down a parking warden to complain. "Yes, we have had a number of complaints," said the warden, "but as long as they are not openly touting for fares there's nothing we can do about it. They are entitled to park for 15 minutes, like everyone else."

Our man persisted, saying it was obvious the taxi drivers were looking for fares because there were so many of them taking up 15-minute zones.

This time the warden conceded, "It is a problem and council is going to do something about it."

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In a landmark decision, the New South Wales Supreme Court has upheld a consumer tribunal order that Holden Australia and one of its Sydney dealers take back a Holden HSV sedan and give the buyer his money back.

Sydneysider Andrew Eagleston bought the demonstrator HSV model in 2001. In the next two years it went back to the dealer seven times and had 12 warranty repairs. The engine was rebuilt several times.

The court ruled that the car never provided the use that a reasonable motorist would expect. It ordered Holden and the dealer to refund Eagleston A$65,000 ($70,000) of the $A75,000 he paid.

Holden accepted the decision.

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Hybrid cars could be even cleaner, cheaper and more efficient, say the British inventors of a generator that replaces heavy starter-motors and flywheels.

They say their generator gives petrol-electric cars the potential of breaking the magic 2.8litre/100km (100mpg) target.

Prototypes have been tested on Ford and Nissan engines in Britain and the invention is ready to go into mass production.

The engineers say their invention can power all the car's electrical systems but is only a fraction of the size of conventional generators.

It was built by engineers from Newage International and Durham University scientists for Britain'sForesight Vehicle research. The generator could also be used in refrigeration systems, for portable power and for boats.

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David Walker was having a few drinks with friends in a rural pub in Britain when an argument arose over who was next to shout.

Things got rowdy so Walker, 28, figured he'd settle it with his shotgun.

The BBC said he took the gun out of his car but, on his way back, tripped and fell, discharging the gun and shooting himself in the - ouch - scrotum.

Walker was jailed for five years for illegal possession of a shotgun.