Dated the 9th day of June, 1906. Filed with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on the 9th day of June, 1906. Prospectus of the Feilding Road Car Company, Ltd. To be registered under "The Companies Act, 1903."

Progress, Volume I, Issue 9, 2 July 1906, Page 249

Dated the 9th day of June, 1906. Filed with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies on the 9th day of June, 1906. Prospectus of the Feilding Road Car Company, Ltd. To be registered under " The Companies Act, 1903."

CAPITAL, 5,1 5,000. Divided into 15,000 Shares of £1 each, of which 14,250 are oftered for public subscription as follows : —2/6 per Share on application ; 2/6 per Share on allotment; and the balance m calls of 2/6 per Share at intervals of not less than one month as may be determined by the Directors.

Provisional Directors . —H. H. Stephens, Esq., Apiti, Merchant , J. W. Bramwell, Esq., Feildmg, Merchant ; E. A. Barton, Esq., Feilding, Bank Manager ; A. H. Sutton, Esq., Feildmg, Draper ; A. Richmond, Esq., Feildmg, Solicitor. Bankers : The Union Bank of Australia, Limited. Solicitor : A. Richmond Esq. Broker : F. H. Haselden, Esq., Feildmg. Secretary (pro tern) : F. H. Haselden, Esq., Feildmg.

This Company is being formed for the following purposes :—: — To provide, maintain, and run a suificient number of Steam Motor ' Buses capable of carrying from 14 to 20 passengers, with luggage, parcels, and mails, in the Feildmg and other approved districts. To provide, maintain, and run 111 the same districts Motor Wagons, on payable routes, with a carrying capacity of from five to seven tons, and lighter passenger and delivery vehicles as may from time to time be deemed advisable. It is proposed in the first instance to inaugurate regular Passenger Services to Kimbolton, Rangiwahia, Apiti, Wai tuna West, and Rongotea, at a considerable reduction on the present fares, and, insofar as is practicable, regular services will be established for the haulage of merchandise, timber, live stock, wool, and othei produce Feilding and District may be said with the utmost confidence to be the best field in the Colony for the establishment of a Motor 'Bus and Wagon Service, owing to the large extent of closely settled country for which Feildmg is the natural outlet. The Company will provide all classes of the community with a regular, quick, and efficient means of transit, not only for themselves and families, but also for their goods and produce, at much cheaper rates than at present in vogue. It has been conclusively proved in England as well as in this Colony that horse traction on good roads such as exist in this district cannot compete with steam traction, and the extract irom the newspaper Progrfss, of Ist. November, 190;, published in Wellington, appended hereto, relative to the motor wagon owned by the Auckland Oty Council, proves the gieat amount of work that that wagon is capable of and is actually doing. The great saving per year, viz., effected by using the wagon instead of horses and caits is a hard fact worth noting. The promoters, having made exhaustive inquiries as to suitable vehicles, are quite satisfied that the Steam Motor 'Buses and Steam Motor Wagons manufactured by Messrs. Sidney Straker and Squire, of London and Bristol, are the best adapted for local conditions. No vehicles of this manufacture have as yet been running on the roads 111 this district. The promoters have consequently placed an order (subject to flotation of the Company) for four passenger and four freight vehicles (two of the latter having been cabled for), at a total cost of delivered completely fitted in Wellington. All vehicles will be exhaustively tested in Wellington before being taken over by the Company. The promoters have also arranged, without cost to the Company, that Mr. Norman Heath shall proceed to England, and that the Motor 'Buses shall be constructed under his personal supervision. He has been instructed to see that any necessary improvements likely to enhance the comfort of passengers be provided. The Large 'Bus is designed to carry 20 passengers and 10 cwt. of luggage, and the small one 14 passengers and a similar amount of luggage. They avill travel between 10 and 12 miles an hour and be capable of ascending gradients tip to 1 m 7 on ordinary roads, and of drawing a trailer carrying an additional load of from 10 to 12 passengers. These 'buses are similar to those in use by the Great Western Railway Company in England, and employed by them as feeders for their railway and for connecting their various lines. The ' buses run on wooden wheels with steel tyres ; rubber chocks are inserted between the bearers of the body and the frame. The car rides with great ease, and may be compared to many vehicles fitted with rubber tyres. The vibration is much less than on an ordinary street horse omnibus. It is estimated that the proposed capital will be ample to carry out the abovestated services and the other objects of the Company, and to provide for future developments. 'Buses can run 60 miles a day comfortably. It is estimated that the average running of the 'buses will be 240 miles a day. Allowing for an average of five passengers only per mile, which is equal to 1200 passenger-miles, this traffic at 2d r>er mile gives a return of /io per day.

The above profit does not take into consideration the carriage of parcels or mails.

The Four Wagons will carry five tons each (making a total of 20 tons) 40 miles a day which is equal to 800 ton-miles. This at Bd. per ton-mile will

The above profit does not take into account a trailer carrying 2 tons to each wagon.

The Wellington City Council have recently imported a five-ton StrakerSquire tipping wagon which passed a te<;t with a full load up a grade oi 1 in 7 to the entire satisfaction of the City Engineer, and such well known con-

tractors as Messrs. J. J. K. Powell, Allan McGuire, and J. McEwen, of Wellington and J. J. Craig, of Auckland, have proved their confidence m these particular wagons by ordering same for their own purposes. Messrs. Ross and Glendinmg, of Dunedm, are the latest purchasers of these wagons. The promoters are of the opinion that it will not be necessary to call up more than 15/- per Share, and they estimate that after making an all-round reduction of 25 per cent, on present charges, and a discount of 10 per cent, to each shareholder holding not less than 100 shares upon the freights paid by such shareholder on the carnage of goods, dividends of at least 15 per cent, can be declared on the called-up capital. Applications for shares will be received up to and inclusive of the thirtyfirst day of August, 1906. Shares will be allotted 111 order of application until the full number have been applied for Applications for a considerable number of shares have already been made to the Provisional Directors, so that intending shareholders should apply early. In case of no allotment the moneys for such unallotted shares will be returned in full without interest. [

Extract from newspaper " Progress," Ist. November, 1905 :—: — THE STRAKER STEAM WAGON. " The progress made during the last few years in the Old World has not been long in extending itself to these shores, and from the success attained by the Straker five-ton tipping wagon, imported at the beginning of the year by the Auckland City Council, it is evident that this mode of traction for cartage of road metal and heavy goods will be adopted by all progressive councils, contractors and carriers in the near future. A machine that is successful in negotiating the very steep grades in and around Auckland cannot fail to be successful in any other part of the Colony, and the following report on the working of the Auckland Straker will prove of interest. The amount carried per day has varied somewhat according to distance, but as an instance, this wagon has taken 6 loads of 5 yards each to Ponsonby, 2^ miles each way, and 6 loads of 5 yards each to Cox's Creek, about 3J miles each way. The cost of running, taking the average during the three months, works out at r>d. per ton per mile, reckoned on the following basis of weekly expenses :—: —

From the above figures it will be seen that this wagon, costing under £8 per week, including all working expenses, depreciation and interest, is doing the work of six two-horse carts, the cost of which would be £6 per day or £36 per week ; so that a saving is made of £28 per week, or over per year. In other words the wagon will be paid for and a saving of made in the first year's working. Th chief features of the Straker machine are its water-tube boiler with its 474 tubes, enabling steam to be made very rapidly, and the wonderful pair of 45-h.p. compound engines with their patent reversing gear ; but the whole of the mechanism in this machine is up-to-date, and is carried out in a workmanlike manner."

Copy of Testimonial from Alfred A. Wngg, Esq., City Engineer, Auckland. City Council of Auckland, City Engineer's office, September 19th, 1905. Sir, In reply to your enquiry re the working of the Five Ton Steam Tipping Wagon purchased from your principals, Messrs. The Straker Steam Vehicle Coy. We have had the Wagon in constant use during the last three months, carrying Road Metal from our quarry at Mount Eden to different parts of the City. The amount carried per day has varied somewhat according to the distance, but as an instance, she has taken 6 loads of 5 yards each to Ponsonby (2-J- miles each way) and 5 loads of 5 yards each to Cox's Creek (about si miles each way). The cost of running, taking the average during the three months, works out at 2d. per ton per mile, worked out on the following basis of weekly expenses :—: —

Yours faithfully, (Signed) Alfred A. Wrigg. C.E., City Engineer. Norman Heath Esq., Hunter Street, Wellington.

Co by of Testimonial from Mr. J. J. K. Powell, Contractor, Wellington. Taranaki Street, Wellington, 14th February, 1906. Messrs. He\th & Ross, Hunter Street, Wellington. Dear Sirs In reply to your inquiry I have much pleasure m stating that the 5-ton Straker Steam Tipping Wagon purchased from you has been used by me continually for the last two months in the cartage of road metal from the Manawatu Station to various parts of the City, including the steep grade up Wellington Terrace „,•-,- „ , I am very pleased with the working of the Wagon, which is doing the work of at least five horses and carts. . With regard to the running cost I can fully confirm the report given by the Auckland City Engineer, copy of which you furnished me with before I purchased the Wagon. F Yours truly, (Signed) J. J. K. Powell.

£ s. d. Six days' takings at £10 60 o o Less cost of running (of which details are given below) 32 40 Profit per week £27 16 o

Cost of Running of Four Motor ''. 4 drivers at £3 per week Fuel at 25/- per week Oil at 6/- per week Repairs at 10/- per week Depreciation at 1 5 % per week 'Buses. £ s. d. 1200 500 1 4 o 200 1200 £32 4 o

Six days at 13s. 4d. Less cost of running (of which details are given below) £ s. d. 160 o o 30 4 o Less 40 per cent, short loading 129 16 o 51 18 c; Profit -foev week £77 17 7

Cost of Running Four Motor Wagons. Four drivers at per week Fuel at 25/Oil at 6/- per week Repairs at 10/- per week Depreciation at 1 5 % I s. d. 1200 q o o 140 1000 10 o o /30 4 o

t, a - Fuel consumption Lubricating oil . . Wages Repairs, so far, have only been of a very trifling nature, but would be amply carried out at 10/- per week Depreciation @ 15% •• Interest on Capital @ 5% 1 5 6 3 o 10 2 2 14 7 17

£ s. d. Fuel consumption Lubricating Oil Wages Repairs, so far have only been of a very trifling nature, but would be amply carried out at 10/- per week Depreciation at 15% Interest on Capital at 5 % 1 5 o 6 o 300 10 o 220 14 o £7 U o