THE NEW ROAD ROLLER.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 901, 15 May 1877, Page 3

THE NEW ROAD ROLLER.

A trial was made yesterday of the new steam road roller, preparatory to the Council taking delivery of it. The object was to ascertain that the roller was in fair working order, and also to see how it would do its work on a larger extent of Mrect than on the former trial. The street selected was Hereford street from Colombo street to Oxford Terrace, upon which a heavy coating of met; .1 has just recently been laid. The roller worked admirably, considering that the metal was large, and that no sort of preparation for bedding had been made in the way of picking up the street, &e. The readiness with which the machine is turned and steered was also manifest, which will be very much easier when the men in charge have got thoroughly info the working. In the afternoon his Worship the Mayor invited a number of gentlemen, including the members of the City Council a»d others, to celebrate the christening of the new roller. His Worship, in rising to propose the first toast, " Success to the Invicta," said that what they had that day seen would convince them that they now had a most useful adjunct to their road-making operations. With the road roller the Council would be enabled to do away with the inconvenience to equestrians and pedestrians which had existed in the shape of the heaps of broken metal on the roads. He felt convinced that when the roller got fairly into working order, and they used "blinding "to make the metal adhere together, their roads would be a perfect treat lo ride or drive on. He thought the citizens were indebted very largely lo the perseverance and energy of 1 hose members of the City Council who had instigated the purchase of the roller. He would now give them " Prosperity to the invicta," which was the name they had that day given the roller. The toast was drank with enthusiasm.

Cr. Ick said he desired to propose a toast which he was sure would be drank most heartily. It was "Prosperity to the importers of the roller, the Messrs Anderson." [Cheers.] Those gentlemen had shown the greatest possible desire to forward in every way the wishes of the Council, and had sent home by telegram to ensure a speedy delivery of it. He was sure they would all join with him in expressing satisfaction that the importation had been so successful as that day's trial had proved. The toast was drunk heartily.

Mr Anderson briefly responded, expressing his belief that the roller would be found to be of great service to the city. The other (oasts proposed were " The exMayors," responded to by Messrs Anderson, Jameson, Sawtell, and Hobbs. " The Works Committee," responded to by Cr. Ick. "The Officers of the City Council," responded to by Dr. Foster, Mr Haskins, and Mr "Walkden. "The Lighting Committee," responded to by Cr. Hawkes. "Ex-Councillors," responded to by Mr Fan*. "The Press," responded to by Messrs Brings and Hart; and " Absent Friends," coupled with the name of Mr M. B. Hart, and sincere expressions of regret at liis indisposition. This concluded a very pleasant afternoon, and the party broke up.