TRIAL OF STEAM STONE-BREAKING MACHINERY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5503, 15 November 1878, Page 2

TRIAL OF STEAM STONE-BREAK-ING MACHINERY.

By invitation from Messrs. Jay and Roberts we attended at Kaiwarra yesterday afternoon to witness the first public trial of the new stone-breaking machine that they have lately imported from Melbourne. A large number of visitors interested in the subject were taken in cabs and carriages from the Occidental Hotel to the scene of operations. Among those present we noticed the Hon, J. Martin, his Worship the Mayor, Mr. Blackett, Engineer* iu-Chief for North Island, Councillor Allen, Mr. Baird, City Engineer, and a number of other professional gentlemen, contractors, &c. Upon arriving at the quarry the machines were in full working order, and, the 2-inch stone that was then rapidly passing through the screen was generally admitted to be of really good quality, far superior to the usual class of hand-broken stone. After having ex* amined the quarry, where an extensive block of stone had been “stripped, 0 a couple of blasts were fired by way of a salute to the visitors, and the stone thus exposed to view was at once examined and tested by the experts in such matters. From the proprietors we learn that their two machines are quite capable of crushing 150 yards of stone per day, which is equal to as much as 50 men could do in the time. That the actual cost of crushing esclu-ive of interest on capital, wear and tear of. machinery, and rent of quarry, £c., „will not . average more than about 6d. per yard. The machines aro capable of taking in and crushing blocks of rock 9in. x 16in., and every person who witnessed the operation admired the apparent ease with which the jaws of the machine crushed up the massive rocks. The machine is known as Hope’s patent excelsior. The jaws used are known to the trade as patent cubing jaws, and are far superior to those in vogue under the old system known as Appleton’s ; Mr. Hope’s being an improvement that has proved highly successful iu England and Victoria and elswhere, in fact wherever introduced. We heard it suggested by competent judges that by a slight addition to the length of the screen a fai larger quantity of 2in. metal would be secured. After the details of the machinery had been explained to those who desired technical information, the party adjourned to the Rainbow Hotel. The company having requested his Worship the Mayor to take the chair, all present drank success to the enterprise of Messrs. Jay and Roberts very heartily. The toast was shortly responded to in suitable terms, and was followed by “ The Legislative Council,” connected with the name of the Hon. Mr. Martin ; “ The Mayor and Councillors,” with the names of Mr. Dransfield and Mr, Alien ; “ The Engineers,” responded to by Mr. Blackett, Mr. Baird, and Mr. Gwynneth; “ Tho Contractors,” responded to by Messrs. Saunders and Brown; and several others. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman, who, in responding, expressed a wish that at other meetings where he would soon be called upon to preside his duties aa chairman might be equally light.