INSPECTION OF MACHINERY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10306, 5 August 1911, Page 6

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY.

THE ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report on the infspec- j tion of machinery istates that very | few prosecutions were made during the year, and these- .were mostly against owners for employing uncertificated engine drivers, to take charge of engines and [boilers that required to he in charge of certifiaoted drivers. In some v districts, it is stated, it is difficult for an owner to replace a certificated driver who leaves! his position hastily, as there may >be iuo qualified tmeimployed drivers available. The engineering trade has not been very ibnsy during the year. The gas and oil engine and the igias 'producer engine, it would appear, 'are displacing the steam engine, except where steam is required ifor manufacturing purposes. Most of the engines: referred to, i says the report, are imported, and are sold at prices against which it I would be almost impossible for firms hi the Dominion to (compete. The gas engine has evidently come 'to .stay, and in Great Britain and the Continent of Europe the experiment of using gas- for the propulsion of ellmps is being tried. Dairing the, year 1166 defects were discovered- in; 'boilers and their fittings. Of- this mumiber '24 were very dangerous, and if they had not heen discovered by an inspector would no doubt have caiused iserious. damage 'to 'life and property. The increasing use of the oil engine -whppe work is of an. inter-mittent-nature is commented upon. Itjiis/used in farm work especially ifijr many purposes. No toiler explosions have occurred during the year, and the department takes isome of .the credit for this during the 21 years that Chief Inspector Duncan has been connected with the department, only two boiler explosionis, so ifar as he knows, have occurred. Forty-i&even of the vessels ..surveyed, were fitted with the new propeller shafts', one had new engines installed, one had new higlnpre.sisiur& cyl- . inders 1 fitted, and three 'had new boilers, provided. The .total' (number of surveys, made during the year was 362, the fees for .which amounted to £2058.