LAKE TAKAPUNA MOTOR 'BUSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 298, 14 December 1904, Page 5

LAKE TAKAPUNA MOTOR 'BUSES.

INAUGURATION OF THE SERVICE

The inauguration of the motor 'bus service between Devonport and Lake Takapuna by the proprietors, the North Shore and Takapuna 'Uus Syndicate, took place to-day. Shortly before three o'clock the first 'bus was started by the Deputy-Mayor of Devonport (Mi Wm. Handley) in front of the Council Chambers, and several subsequent trip.-, were made by the three 'buses a-t pre sent on the service until all guests had been conveyed to the Lak. Hotel, where the visitors were enter tained by the company and Messrs Cousins and Atkin, Ltd., the builder of the cars.

; Two of the Tmses are built on the "Ideal" style, a design patented b.y Messrs Cousin3 and Atkin, Ltd. The outside of the cars is nicely' painted in cream and chocolate colours, the name of the proprietors and the service being conspicuously dsplayed. Each 'bus i licensed to seat 16 . passengers. The body of the ear is saioon-shaped, e Witt seats arranged on the four sides. The entrance to this compartment is by c step on either side. The interior i& nicely painted, and the seats are upholstered in leather, spr'ngs being fitted tc eliminate jolts or jars. It is claimed for the macJiinery that when working it causes very little vibration, while the construction of the 'bus itself is such as to reduce vibration to a minimum. The two "Ideal" models are fitted with 30 h.p. steam engines of the Chelnisford type, the fuel beng kerosene. The boilers are 30 h.p., with an ordinary working pressure of 3501be, and when the maximum power (450.b) has been reached, the flames under the boiler are shut out. When the si.eam has dropped to the normal working pressure the flames come up again. The eafety valves open at 3501b. The boiler has been teated to 8001b hydraulic. The boiler is a five-tube one with 5811 tubes. A speed of 20 miles an hi.mr can be attained, the average speeft being about 16 miles per hour. The cars travel six mile3 on a gallon C-f kerosene, and about 50 miles on a gallon of water. The engnes and all the running gear is encased in a dust-proof ease. The tyres of the vehicle are of solid rubber. The other car is a smaller one, having seating accommodation for nine persons. The engines are Gardiner-Surper !ect. It has a flush boiler, which generates steam quickly. When the pressure rises beyond 400.b the safety valves open, and the water is blown out of the boiler into the condenser. Kerosene s also burned in this 'bus. The 'bus is fitted with pneumatic tyres. The company have ordered two more of these cars, which are built complete in England. One of these is expected to .arrive here in about a week, and the other will arrive shortly after. It i3 expected that five 'buses will be engaged pn the service by the New Year.