THE DRAG SCOOP.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2948, 13 October 1925, Page 3

THE DRAG SCOOP.

SUCCESSFUL TRY-OUT YESTERDAY. The drag scoop, an idea of the late Mr. A. E. Lockwood, for deepening the channel of the Manawatu River between the wharf and the bar, was given a successful try-out yesterday. At the time of Mr. Lockwood’s death the apparatus was still under construction, but since then the work has been completed by Mr. J. Joseph, on behalf of the Lockwood family and yesterday was tried out at and below Robinson’s Bend, with very promising results. Despite many set-backs experienced, as was only to be expected on the initial run, the strip of river operated on showed an increase in the depth of ten inches after jtwo hours work. Slight adjustments and alterations are yet necessary before the scoop will be perfect but those who witnessed yesterday’s operations are satisfied with the results and expect the apparatus to be highly successful in deepening the channel. The scoop is not unlike a row ot harrow teeth in appearance and is about five feet wide, attached to a solid iron back. This scoop is lowered front the stern of a punt bv a winch, the teeth tearing up the surface of the river bed and the back plate, together with the propellor of the launch attached to the punt for towing purposes, causes a terrific swirl, which lifts the sand thus loosened and causes it to be swept down the river with the current. That the strip of river bed operated on yesterday was lowered ten inches in two hours augurs well for the success of the scoop.