THE THOMSON ROAD STEAMER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 58, 9 March 1871, Page 2

THE THOMSON ROAD STEAMER.

(From the Canterbury Press.) The trial of the Thomson road steamer recently imported from Otago by Mr J. L. Gillies, uuder offer to the Provincial Government here took place yesterday morning at the Railway station. Notwithstanding the unpleasantness of the weather a large crowd of persons assembled to witness the trial of this new addition to our means of locomotion. The steamer has three wheels, two of them being of larger dimensions than the third, which is placed in front, and is used as a steering wheel; the others, which are placed in the centre, being the driving wheels. These wheels are hollow, being formed of segments of iron, so that in case of injury only one segment need be removed. The novelty of these wheels consists in their being covered with vulcanised indiarubber tires, five inches thick, which are protected from damage by transverse flat steel straps at short intervals, which are bound together and held in their places by an endless chain of connecting links. By the use of these tires, any jarring or jolting is avoided, added to which the breadth of the wheels, some fifteen inches, and the softness of the indiarubber, prevents the steamer sinking, should it have to be taken over any soft

ground. When in motion the indiarubber tires spread out lo a flattened surface of some breadth, and pressing through the intervals between the straps i!*ke a firm grip of the ground, thus materially assisting the propulsivo power of the machine, there being 240 inches of gripping power on each wheel. The piuious are all of wrought iron, thus lessening the risk of breakage. In the front a seat, something resembling the driving seat of a threshing machine is placed, upon which the driver sits, having in front of him the lever regulating the steerage of the machine, all the machinery necessary for the starting and stoppiug of the engine being close under his hand, and within easy reach. About the cenlro of the machine is placed the disconnecting gear, by meaus of which one of the wheels can be thrown out of gear at onci?, and the machine turned by means of the other wheel and the steering wheel. Should it he necessary to arrest the progress from accident or otherwise, both wheels can at once be thrown out of gear. The engine may also be used as a stationary one, should it be so needed. In rear on each side of the furnace are the tanks for the supply of the engine with water, containing tiie estimated supply of water for the day of ei>;ht hours, viz., 400 gallons. The engine is of twelve-horse power, and is guaranteed by the makers to take a load of 181 tons up an incline of one in twelve at a rate of 2:} miles an hour, or when unloaded and working on level ground a speed of 8 miles-an hour can be attained. One noticeable poiut about the steamer is the ease and facility with which it can be turned, it being able to do so in about its own length. Steam having been got up, the steamer was taken through the railway yard along the town belt into Colombo-street. Here his Houor the Superintendent, his Worship the Mayor, and Messrs Anderson and Gordon mounted, and the steamer was driven at a rapid pace towards the Agricultural aud Pastoral Society's grounds, everything working in capital order. It was then brought back by the same rout to the starting point. There is however one defect noticeable in this steamer, and that is, that the tanks spoken of are only some fifteen inches from the ground, so that there appears to the uninitiated observer a chance of damage beiug done should it get into any gullies or holes dnring its progress. We do not know whether this is the case or not, but, it strikes a casual observer that such a thing might happen. We understand that the Government, feeling satisfied with the trial, have purchased the steamer for £1,200, and that its first trip will be made to the Malvern Hills coal mines.