Artesian Wells

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 103, 7 March 1889, Page 3

Artesian Wells

The sinking of artesian wells in Canterbury is gradually being reduced to a science. Of late years manual labor has given place to steam and now one of the oldest well sinkei s in the province has introduced another apparatus, which it is calculated will work equally as well as steam and save as much labor. The new driving machine constructed by | Mr John Smith, of St. Albans, does not appear to be at all complicated, and the mode of working, it is explained, should ensure the sinking of an ordinary artesian without any risk of breakage. The monkey travels in two radius rads, which serves the purpose of the tail on the ordinary well monkey, and it can be raised in order to give it a drop of eome six feet. This long drop, however, Mr Smith has dispensed with, because of the danger of breakage of pipes. Levers are affixed carrying heavy weights. These assist the monkey, and as it strikes with short but rapid strokes, the weights help very considerably to force down the pipe instead of it being driven in by unnecessarily severe blows. The apparatus as at present built can be worked with the expenditure of very little labor, and wbeu the block and tackle is supplemented by a second motion the rope will release itself. Under these circumstances one man can perform the duties which, in the ordinary way require three or four men. Mr Smith is confident of the utility of his invention both for pipe aud pile driving, and expects it, by reason of its labor saving qualification and the absence of risk from breakage, to successfully establish itself in the market. — Telegraph.