EXPERIMENTS WITH A STEAM FIRE ENGINE AT PERTH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2361, 31 July 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

EXPERIMENTS WITH A STEAM FIRE ENGINE AT PERTH.

On April 28th the inhabitants ol Perth bad, through the pourteay ol the Marquis of Breadalbane, an opnoi; tunity of witnessing a series ol experi mentfl with, a Bteam lire engine. Thf engine, whichis one of' Merryweathei andSon't latest patent Metropolitar (London) Brigado steam fire engines with fly-wheel and crank motion, hai : been purchased by his Lordship, ant advaiitago was taken of its passage North to Taymoutb Castle to allow tjii Corporation of Perth and others in terested to witness its powers, Tht first performance took place at the "Hor«9 Water" on the North Inch. During the forenoon the engine was

Stationed in front of the fire engine house in North Tay street, and the fire having been kindled in the presence of the crowd shortly . before two o'clock, it went off, drawn by a pair of horses/round the city, and reached the «rse Water about ten minutes later, h tho flteam up, Exhibitions were .tJjeß'given with'various numbers of different kinds of ingles, »s manf y' four strong jets of water being- projected 'to great altitudes at one time. The water here was drawn from'the river. '.The' engine was then moved'! down .to the Municipal Build-ingßi'-and .the experiments repeated with! attachments to the hydrants of the city supply, .where' the trials proved; equally successful. The exhiwere witnessed by a large number of people' The .trials were conducted by-.jMi;;ft H. Heathman, Messrs /Merryweather and Son's representative, and the-ehgino.was ; worked' by'-' Engineer Pawcett, from Taymouth Castle. Captain MacLoish and several members of ; i the Perth Fire Brigade rendered

effioient assistant during the opera tions, ..Maniul (ire engines are no powerful enough to project strong jet with great force upon a conflagration ' which may have gained much head- ! way, and in the night they need so many (lumpers that prompt service is considerably handicapped. The steam engiiio is portable, can generate steam to working pressure in eight minutes, ami needs but one person to manage-it. When started it will continue In pump for any length of time, requiring only coal and water. It is claimed for the engine th it it can- raise-, steam from cold water in four minutes,- to3olb pressure in five minutes, and to 1001b in six to eight minutes; that it ran pump 250 gallons, or fully.one and a half tons, of water per minute at full power; and that it can project a jet to the'altitude of 160 feet, or two. three, or four jets nt one time. Its weight, is 28 cwt,, but being moimted on high wheels with steel springs, a few men, or one or two horses, can easily drag it to the scene of tire. The mechanism is simple, but strong and durable and readily understood, can be managed by an unskilled person and. requires the. minimum of attention when out. of use, Steel and phosphor bronze are liberally used. The parts are well deskmed and accurately balanced. While the pump valves will pans weeds, chips, and muddy water without choking, tht-y are accessible in time of mu> and all water passages are of ample area and practically curved to secure entry and exit of water with lhe least friction and loss of power, This will be fully appreciated when it is stated that the engine develops 17 horse power, and although its weight is but 3,13G1b5„ the efficiency is 560,000 font-llw per minute, or 178 times the weight of the machine. Where water supply is limited the engine can be slow el to suit the circumstances. The suction hose is always coupled and laid upon brackets, while the delivery' hose and accessories are carried in :,\' spacious box, The hose box gives comfortable seating for six urn, while two'look-oiit. men and a r.iw.hmnii and a stoker are also accommodated. The boiler is ' clear of machinery,'so;, that the rear man may stoU mid attend lo the steam and water supply dui'm«'progress to a tire. A considerable number of steam • lire engines by :he. same makers ate in , operation in Seuthwl and tnglainl. A precis-lv siuilar has. been' fre quently used at Taymonih Cattle.— ; The Tropics Journal.