THE HERCULEAN LARRIKIN.

Kumara Times, Issue 1167, 25 June 1880, Page 2

THE HERCULEAN LARRIKIN.

Probably the actual fact of naming a piece of machinery is in itself a small one, but at the same time the interest taken therein generally demonstrates" - the amount of favor with which the machinery in question is looked upon in the locality where it may be erected, Taking this as an established precedent, ' there can be little doubt that, the new engine now erected by Mr Maher to > aid in the work of driving and making the iCumara sludge-channel is viewed ' as au acquisition to the.district by the • community generally, as.-the proceed- • ings consequent on the baptismal name < • being conferred on it yesterday clearly, proved. Shortly before three o'clock, a large number of persona left town for i the purpose of witnessing the the fair sex being strongly represented l ', on the occasion. On the ground) how-: ever, where the engine was erected, ~ there was an assemblage of between.; three and four hundred people. And shortly after the hour named', Mr'. Muher, the proprietor, introduced Mrs Blake to those present, and in a fewwords invited her to confer a name oil i the first 6teara-engine introduced on this gold-field. To this Mrs Blake immediately responded by briefly explain* ing the pleasure it gave her to be present for such a purpose, and, launching the orthodox bottle of champagne from her hand ag;iinst the fly-wheel, she- declared the engine duly baptised under the name of the " Herculean Larrikin." Simultaneously with the smashing of the " fiz " the engine was set in motion, the winding gear revolved, a loaded truck was brought up the shaft to the surface and run out and jgtnptied, amidst the hearty elieers of those assembled. At this stage of the. iugs Mr Maher,' who had provided h most liberal supply of "creature forts" on the ground, iuvited everyone present to pledge the prosperity of the "Herculean Larrikin," which invitation was most eagerly accepted and efficiently responded to in bumpers of all kinds, from Derated waters to the three-star liquor of a different brand. In the meantime, the cage being in readiuess, one or two persons descended the shaft (which is 130 feet in depth) and inspected the drive. Then one of the fair sex followed, and after this example the descending epidemic quickly spread, and not by ones and twos, but by batches were the geutler halfs pot under ground. Among those who descended, however, was one thoughtful individual who went provided with the necessary sparkling beverage wherewith to carry out the same, cerebjony in regard to the drive which had already been performed oh the surface to the .engine, and which he did in a far more satisfactory manner as far as the contents of the bottle were concerned. Mr Blake, in one of his usual pithy and humorous speeches, having pointed oat that there was every probability of the of the district increasing, and three cheers having been accorded the contractor, Mr Maher, the asseni* blage dispersed, appearing well satisfied with their afternoon's novel enjoyment. The engine in question, which worked very smoothly yesterday, as also the winding gear, was made by Messrs D. Monro and Co., of Melbourne. : It is 15-horse-power, with a stroke of 15 inches, and is fitted the latest improvements. to a pressure of 50ft. of it is calculated that the contracter'wiU'be able to raise to the surface by its agency about ten yards of dirt per' hour ; but of course as the length of the drive increases so will the number of yards raised decrease, as allowance will have to be made for the time employed in, trucking the stuff .to the foot of the shaft. With the knowledge that the completion of the sludge-channel is a matter of vital importance to this district we can hut congratulate the con-

tractor en the evident desire he exhibits to forward this important work by all the available means in his power, and at a large pecuniary outlay to himself.