A NEW WOOL PRESS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2450, 11 February 1882, Page 3

A NEW WOOL PRESS.

[“ New Zealand Mail.”] We recently had an opportunity of inspecting the new wool press which has been constructed by Mr Donald Donald, of Solway, Masterton, on account of which he has applied for a patent. With regard to the mode in which the pressure is applied, it may be said to resemble the Speedy press, the shaft which is brought to bear upon the head of the bale being brought down by means of a stout rope which is wound up. But in the mode of doing this, the two differ materially. In the Speedy, the rope is wound up on two small spools which are attached to the foot of the press, and which are worked by hand spikes, while in the more recent invention, the work ia accomplished by means of a capstan, which may be constructed of iron, or consist simply of a round piece of wood which has been properly fixed. The rope is, in the first place, attached to a ring which has been securely fastened to a stout piece of timber, which must run under the press. It is then passed through a sheaf in the shaft, which takes the place of the screw, and then carried down to another one on the floor, and fastened near the press to the before mentioned piece of timber. Thence it is carried straight to tho capstan. A small block and tackle to raise the shaft, and tho upper and lower boxes, both of which can be taken to pieces without the slightest difficulty, complete the press. Compared with the Speedy, it has this disadvantage, that it cannot he moved about to any part of the woolshed at pleasure, but this is amply compensated for in other respects. Mr Donald informs us that it works much quicker than the Speedy or screw, and that it is also more powerful. Mr Donald had an excellent opportunity of comparing it with the screw press, as he worked one of tho latter at his Waikaraka station last season, while he erected a capstan press at Solway. He finds that the latter will turn out on the average just about three hales to the other’s two, and that with tho same kind of wool about twenty extra fleeces, averaging at least 71b, could be put down by means of tho now invention. These are very important considerations, but they are supported by another, which must necessarily carry weight with tho small capitalist, namely, its extraordinary simplicity and cheapness. Mr Donald constructed his press in two days, having only a few shillings’ worth of ironwork, and the two sheaves made for him. As soon as the patent has been issued, one of these presses will probably be subjected to a public trial in Masterton.

The white memorial stone placed over Charles Dillon’s grave at Brompton bears the following lines from Wills’ play, “Bolivar” ■ —“ Methought I heard God’s angel call the muster roll. Lord, lam here 1” At the Teatro Goldoni, of ’Venice, a continuation of “La Fille de Madame Angot ” has been produced under the title, “ The Father of Madame Angot’s Daughter.” The music is by Signor Zandomeneghi, but the work had little success.