THOMPSON'S TRACTION ENGINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2348, 4 August 1871, Page 2

THOMPSON'S TRACTION ENGINE.

Yesxehdat the official public trial of this engine took place. It Btarted at noon, precisily, from Fort-street, drawing two locomotive agricultural engines, weighing together about lifteen tons, behind it. The route it took was as follows: —From Fort-street into Queen-street, up Shortland Crescent, along Symonds-street and Karaugaliape Koad, down (J-roy-street into Queen-street, back again to Symonds-street, by way of Wakefield-street; aloDg Symonds-street and the Kavangaliape Koad, and down Upper and Lower Queen-street, back to the starting point. A large number of people were present, and watched the progress of the rnachino with great interest. Several short stoppages were made along the route, and the engine returned to Fort-street about three o'clock. It went along with considerable smoothness, and mounted the different gradients slowly, but surely, dragging its heavy load after it. It turned the coruers with remarkable facility, and the trial may, on the whole, be considered rery successful. The pace up the different inclines was about two miles an hour; on the level roads it made progress at the rate of about three miles an hour. Of course the engine is still very stiff, and the load behind it was a severe test, being some four tons more than the engine is guaranteed to draw. During the joßruey a good many horses snorted and threw up their heads, while some refused to pass it, and had '.o be held while it was geipg by, but 110 accident happened. We think this alone would be a sufficient bar to the engine being brought into common use in the vicinity of the town, but no doubt in a larse public yard, or on a level road in a country district, it would be eminently useful.