42 



was drawing a load of ten tons up Dover-hill, a gradient* varying from 1 in 7 

 to 1 in 11 ; it went up with perfect ease, and also came down with the same 

 load. * * * The engine is an 8-horse, and is fitted with Baron's patent cup 

 surface boilers, and is worked to a pressure of 601bs. to the square inch. The 

 weight of the engine is 6 tons. * * * The carriage was loaded with three 

 68-pounder guns, of a total weight of 20 tons, and steamed away from the Royal 

 Ai-senal, past the Royal Artillery Barracks, with the utmost ease, although 

 this portion of the joui'ney was a considerable incline, &c." 



The Times of November 13th, 1858, says :— " It was put through a course of 

 tests in dragging heavy loads of timber at a speed of six miles per hour, along 

 the stoned thoroughfares, winding round the narrow curves, and performing 

 a rapid circle in the presence of the Commissioners, as well as Sir John 

 Rennie, the engineer, and the various authorities of the yard. The Commis- 

 sioners expressed themselves extremely satisfied, &c." 



Again, at a trial at Uxbridge, 28th AprO, 1860, — ** There could not have 

 been found a worse road for a trial than the one selected, abounding in sharp 

 turns, bridges of sudden rise and pitch, and the fearful Chandler's-hill ; 

 but they proved of no impediment to the way of the engine, which has con- 

 tinued at work all the week." 



On another occasion (TAe £'x/)re55, March 30th, 18G1), — "The large engine 

 was attached to a "total load of about 38 tons," in the presence of the 

 Marquis of Breadalbane, the Earl of Caithness, Mr. John Penn, Mr. Mathews, 

 and many scientific gentlemen. On leaving the factory the road for some 

 distance has a gradient of about 1 in 15, but the engine drew the immense 

 load with the utmost ease at about three miles per hour, &c." 



The Times of October 29, 1861, says :— " A new engine of great power and 

 improved construction performed the operation with marked success. Each 

 truck load exceeded 35 tons weight, exclusively of the engine weighing another 

 12 tons. It climbed the steep ascent leading from the factory, and thi'ough the 

 narrow windings and acclivities with appai-ent ease, and 'performed the distance 

 of about two miles in half an hour. Messrs. Penn and Son, who were present, 

 witnessed with satisfaction the performance of the traction engine, and ex- 

 pressed their satisfaction, &c." 



On another occasion " An engine was set to work three ploughs. in form over 

 a light loamy soil, the ground rather wet ; the quantity of work in a day of ten 

 hours was at the rate of six acres, at a cost of not more than 4s. per acre * * 

 The land was as effectually ploughed as if it had been done by horses." 



Finally, remarking that the facts just noticed must speak for themselves, 

 Dr. Agnew mentioned that Mr. Askin Monison had informed him he had 

 written home by last mail for one of these engines, leaving it to his agent to 

 select it from any manufactory he chose. There are now many makers, and each 

 may have some peculiar excellence. "We may hope, therefore, to see a traction 

 engine fairly at work in the course of 8 or 10 months at furthest. 



Mr. Morton Allpokt then read a paper on the Trout and Salmon Ova, 

 explaining at the same time the arrangements of the hatching ponds by means 

 of a colored drawing. 



At the conclusion of the paper discussion ensued as to the future manage- 

 ment of the young trout and salmon, but it being Mr. Allpoi-t's intention 

 to report upon this subject in a future communication it is not further 

 referred to at present. One of the original in boxes which the ova came from 

 England, shewing the manner in which they were packed, was exhibited. 



Archdeacon Davies suggested that it would now be well to consider what 

 measures should be taken to express the sense which he was siu-e we all felt 

 of the obligation we were under to Mr. Ramsbottom, Mr. Youl, Messrs. 

 Money Wigram and others, who had all worked so well together in carrying 

 out this great enterprise of the introduction of the salmon. 



Mr. T. GiBLiN was sure that the Royal Society would only be too anxious to 

 do all that lay in its power to give due honor and credit to all concerned in the 

 undertaking ; but he also thought, considering the great national importance of 

 the work which he now hoped was about to be crowned «v^ith entire success, 

 that the whole colony as it were, should through their representatives in parli- 

 ment take further action in the matter, and either by a vote of thanks or by- 

 some more substantial means, shew their sense of the great service that had 

 been rendered to Tasmania. 



After further discussion it was agreed that for the present the matter 



• The gradients on the Sandhill at Launceston, and on the hill at Pontville, are one 

 in twenty and some parts one in eighteen. The steepest portion of the Main Roads 

 a short rise south of Pontville Bridge which is on« in fifteen. 



