A NOVEL BOAT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 183, 5 August 1896, Page 2

A NOVEL BOAT.

Quite a crowd of interested spectators lined the outer tee of tbe big wharf and the smaller wharves this morning, when a novelty, in the way of a boat was exhibited. This new acquatic inveotiou is known a-* Laymen's pueumatic boat, recommended for the use of all sportsmen. The boat or rather pneumatic boots as it might be more appropriately described, consists of a pair of leggings of rubber, attached to a Conical shaped boat, supported in the water by air tight compartments. The boatman— or sportsman —puts on the boots and leggings han^B the upper part over bis shoulders by straps and then wades out into the sea -'• or it may be through marshes and shallows. In deep water he releases his strap aud sits down. The air tight compaamen Is sustain his weight, and he slowly paddles along by a movemeut of the legs as though walking— the legs, of course, being tar under water, The trial made this morning was under the supervision of Mr A. Muore, who ia travelling with the invention on behalf of Mr W. Wiggins of Wellington, who is sole agent for New Zea.and. Mr Moore got into the boat, or rather put his boots on. at the boat landing outside the Anchor Foundry, paddling slowly out to a buoy o6f the big wharf, where he got into a boat and allowed two young Nelsonians to have a paddle on their own account — ono at a timo of courso. The invention is certainly an ingenious one, and would perhaps be useful to sportsmen, but as a sea boat it would require some better method of propelling and steering. However, the exhibition was an interesting one, and led one to believe that the idea is one which might be worked upon to perfection, and to some greater advantage— this despite the numerous queer comments and thoughtless criticisms which were heard from some of the spectators to-day.