NEW RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8365, 19 September 1890, Page 5

NEW RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

Tiikkk have ju«t been completed at the Newmarket Railway Workshops, four carriages, of excellent workmanship and finish, constructed to run on the line which is to be opened between Wellington and Napier. Throe are - claws carriages, and are similar in design to that built at the workshop* for the use of His Excellency the Governor. Each of the first-class carriages is divided into four compartments, and is most comfortable for travelling. All the seats are heavily cushioned with green buffalo hide, and the arm-rests which are necessary in tlio main compartment, instead of being of iron, arc of polished puriri. The interior of this compartment <i panelled with New Zealan.l woods — rnangiao, totara knot, mottled puriri, and figured kauri being included in the design; and the monogram " N.Z. ft.," inlaid, appears on each panel. ' r hcre are also mirror panels. In the roof k'vuri alternates with rimu. The lamp brackets are nickel-plated, and very neat. Adjoining the main compartment ia a well-fitted lavatory, to which water is laid on. Beyond the lavatory are bwo compartments, each to seat six people. One of thece is for smokers, whilst in other a lounge may be provided for the weary traveller. The carriage has a side platform, railed, from which a view may bo obtained of the surrrounding country. In the smoking compartment there is a card table which may be fixed in position ; the table is inlaid with rewarewa, mottled kauri, and puriri, and noatly polished. The fourth carriage is second class, one-third of it being reserved for smokers. In this carriage the interior of the main compartment is fitted with kauri, varnished, and the colour of the wood has a very agreeable effect. This car has also a lavatory. All the carriages are built on the bogie prin ciple, and the whole of the work in their construction —including the bogies, the interior fittings, the embossing of tho glass in the roofs and doors, etc.—has been done afc the workshops. The only exception is that the iron castings were supplied by Mr. C. Hawkeswood, whilst the varnishing and painting were done by the New Zealand Varnish Company, Avondale. The carriages were built under the superintendence of Mr. Jackson, locomotive engineer, Mr. Gibson having personally directed their construction ; and the work reflects the utmost credit upon all concerned, and serves admirably to show what may be done at the Newmarket workshops. It ie proposed to send the carriages to Wellington by the Hinemoa to-day.