Our Electric Plant.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 16, 17 February 1894, Page 15

Our Electric Plant.

As we explained in a previous issue Fair Play has been been the first journal in the Southern Hemisphere to print a paper by means of electric power, and Messrs McKee and Gamble are one of the first firm south of the equator to use electricity as a motive power. Its introduction as a substitute for gas or steam marks an epoch in the colonies in mechanical engineering work, and opens up a field of future possibilites that is limitless. The pioneers of a movement like this are certainly worthy of the encouragement such an innovation deserves, and it is to bo hoped that our example will be followed by other offices in the near future. The electric motor in Fair Play office is driven by electricity supplied by the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate, and when

the, power is on can be handled by a boy with perfect ease and safety. By means of a system of shafting the speed is regulated so that the machine on which the paper is printed can run off from twelve to sixteen hundred copies an hour. All dirt, unnecessary noise, &c., is done away with, and everything goes like clock work. The beauty of the contrivance lies in its perfect evenness, the small space necessary for it, and the amount of power available. All the machinist has to do is to step to the switch board, touch a small lever, and everything is at once in motion. We publish in this issue two illustrations, one of the motor and the other of the switch board. The latter is connection by wires with the motor and the head station of the New Zealand Electrical Company. It is furnished with a gauge similar to a steam gauge which records the amount of electricity used, and the amount of power available at the time, the levers are for turning the current on or off and after instructions have been given, it can be worked by the

merest novice. The dynamo or motor itself is a small compact affair, taking up very little room, and unostentatiously doing the work that a large gas or

steam engine would otherwise be required for. It is an alternating current two-horse power motor and in addition to the large Wbarfdale machine runs several presses, a dynon. o for depositing copp r or silver, and a guillotine. The power from the head office is turned on at 10 o’clock in the morning and is available from that time until between one and two o’clock on the following morning. Arrangements are being made and the lines are already laid to light the premises of Fair I’lay throughout with electricity, as one of the principal advantages of electricity as a motive power is that in addition to its utility for actual work, it can be used for the purpose of furnishing light for the establishment. Faik Play is the first paper in the Southern Hemisphere that has recognised this fact and given a practical demonstration of its recognition. "We invite inspection from any who are interested in the progress Electricity is making as a motive power and who think as we do that it will eventually take the place of steam or gas in almost every industry whether manufacturing or otherwise.

Apropos of tho change of management of the Evening J’ress, it seems a peculiar coincidence that immediately upon a rumour gaining crodenco that Mr. Bell had signified his intention of withdrawing from the proprietary of that journal it should bo snapped up by tho Prohibition Party. Ono would have thought that Mr. Bell would have remained as one of tho proprietors in conjunction with his tomporanco friends, and it would soem that although theoretically an expounder of Prohibition and willing to make use of the fad for political purposes, when it comes to living up to its tenets or engaging in proctioiu business with its exponents Mr. 801 l prefers to draw out. Who is going to edit tho revivified rag is not known at prosent, but wo have boon given to understand that a cast iron sot of rules has already been framed and will bo hung up in all tho offices. Ono of them roads as follows : —“ Any member of tho stuff who is seen either going in or coming out of a public house will consider an intimation from tho management of his act being known equivalent to a dismissal without notice. ’’ Wo have also boon informed that the name of the paper is to bo changed and that it will bo known hereafter as tho Evening Teapot. A picture of Sir llobert Stout will be placed in cveiy room in tho building, and each member of tho stall will be obligod to pledge himself to drink nothing stronger than soda water, unless medically udvised, and then the editor will require a certificate signed by some wellknown physician for the purpose of Tiling.