A DESIRABLE SHEEP TRUCK

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2236, 6 November 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

A DESIRABLE SHEEP TRUCK

Messrs Bkv/enor and Valentine ex hibited recently a njorl< 1 of thcii new ly invented convertible hhr°p and general merchandise railway waggon at the M< Ibourne wool warehouses of the Au^tr.i l.wan Mortgage and Agency Company The model was inspected by the laifre number of stockownera attending 1 the stud sheep sale, and a general opinion was expressed that the new earriapo w.i* admirably suited to purposes for which it was intended. The object of the inventors has been to con^truet a railway waggon that is fitted for the carnage of grain, wool, potatoes, and geneidl merchandise, and when required can be at a moment's notice transformed into a most couvenieut sheep waggon The inventors claim that by using theiwaggon the great loss and inconvenience of keeping hundreds of sheep waggon*idle, often for a long time, will bavoided. The waggon is divided trans rersely by a fixed partition, and when io quired for the carriage of sheep is fith ■! with two floors, the upper one benn,' movable, so that when required for ti.e carriage of goods it can be raised to the ceil ing by a very simple mechanical appliance. Both floors are grated, and the floor ing pieces or battens are so notched that the sheep will have an excellent foothold, and not be easily tin own down. Tae wet and droppings from the sheep tun clear away from the ttoois ; fiose fiom the upper floor are received on an iion lining, and run down a cential gutter, t-> be discharged down a ti\ul pipe in the centre of the waggon. A full-si/eil specimen of the flooiing w.ia shown, and highly approved by those present. The floors are so constructed as to utter nut the slightest obstruction to the whcvl ing of loaded hand tnicks in and out of the waggon. Tne openings into tin four compartments of the waggon are olosed by iron hurdles, sliding freely on iron rods, and leaving a full opening from the lower floor of the ceiling (formed by the lower portion of the raised upper floor) for loading goods. For the protection of perishable goods eich waggon will be provided with four tarpaulin or canvas cm tains, so as to completely enclose the siries. The npw waggon has met with the approval of the Victorian railway anthontiws, and one is now iv course of construction for trial on

the railways The hearts of the Railway D -jiart'iients in the neighbouring colonieg line also c\prc'iS r il a highly favourable opinion of the new carriage. The new wagufon has been patented in all the Austial.isian colonies — Australasian.