Straker Steam Wagon.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 5, 1 March 1907, Page 171

Straker Steam Wagon.

Gradually motoi tiacuou ia taking the place of the horse ior heavy traffic, even in the country dislncts. The Rangitikei County Council weie the first to make use of steam motors for the cartage of metal , next, the Oroua Carrying Company Ltd piuchased a live-ton "Colonial" t} pc to be used pimcipally for the caitage of piodace to the lailway at Feilding The following bearing on this wagon, is taken from the Manawalit Daily Tim's " '1 he wagon was loaded with four tons of wire J lie run was along Kimbolton Road to Cheltenham, then via Hayne's Line to Beacomield and to Cunningham's Post Office, negotiating the Devil's Elbow with the utmobt ease It was then taken through Davis cutting and home via the Cheltenham Cross Road negotiating the very steep hills (1 m 7) easily on the lovssp2ed geai With the foui tons load it came home from Cheltenham a distance of ') miles in 5.i minutes The jouiney only occupied six hours It ma} also be mentioned that the consumption of coke was small The settlers m \piti will no doubt be delighted it the success of the company's enterpiise, for now a speedy and cheap means of transit has at last been provider! which will bung them m closer touch with the centres Aiter exhaustive cnquirv Mr John White, contractor, of Hawera, decided to discard horsetraction for the cheaper, reliable and moie modem system for the carriage of road metal and produce and so as to meet the vaivmg conditions, purchased a five-ton tipping wagon which is gi\ ing ever}' satisfaction to its piogiessive owner Wellington has also iecci\ed the addition of one wagon, which is being used by its owners, Messrs McEwen & Carter, for the cainagc of goods between Wellington and Petone We gave it as our opinion in an eail} publication of Progress, that motor tiaction would plaN a leading part in drawing the outl\ing conntr} districts closer to the towns and railways, and it seems evident that Messrs S}dne> Straker cV Squire Ltd. (who are now represented in NNc r Zealand b\ Messrs. Norman Heath & Co ) ha\ c been able to turn out a machine that proves satisfactory to the owner, and which will be welcomed by the backblock settlers

The motor cycle is destined to solve the ptoblem of unr. ersal locomotion Ladies of all ages aie now procuring this means of tiansit in the Old Country, and it will not be long befoie the initiative is taken by some intrepid New Zealand lady whereupon the fashion will grow appreciably The Lancashire Steam Motor Company are announcing a new shipment of their celebiated steam ■wagons for municipal general and colonial service They are contractors foi the "War Office and many of the laigest municipal authorities The excellence of then make has obtained eveiywhere the praise of experience