CAMERON'S SPARK ARRESTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 8

CAMERON'S SPARK ARRESTER

After a considerable amount of unavoidable delay, consequent upon the requirements of the railway department, an entirely fresh, departure was made in connection with the experiments with Cameron's spark- arrester. Considerable alterations were required, so as to fit the machine upon an entirely, different engine from that upon which previous trials had been made. Having- completed these alterations, a careful test was made of the engine .without the patent machine", and ' oh. Thursday the engine went to Port and/ back fully equipped with the spark arrester.. Not only did the machine act as a perfect arrester of all sparks, but gave proof of the fact that it in no way retarded 'the steaming powera of the engine, while it acted a3 a great eeonomiser of the usual quantity of fuel required for the ordinary journey of the train. In addition to the passenger carriages, no less than 13 goods waggons were attached to the train, thus providing a genuine and. indeed, a severe test, both to the engine and the Cameron machine. It-may now be <;oneluded that Mr Cameron's invention has accomplished all that has been claimed for if. Besides Mr Cameron and the railway officials, a few gentlemen more or less interested in the invention accompanied the train, and all were satisfied that success had attended their efforts to attain the end so earnestly sought for. No doubt further improvements can and will be made, but now it can be asserted that Cameron's spark arrester and fuel economiser is a real practical success, and will accomplish the much-desired object of preventing the serious fires which cause the colony so much heavy expenditure every year. It should also prove a valuable asset to tho country as a fuel eeonomiser.