OSBOR.NE-WALLSEND COLLIERY. 



227 



mounted on an under-carriage like an ordinary skip. A rod 

 lias one end attached eccentrically to one of the wheels, while 

 the other is connected to a rocking arm which gives motion to 

 another rod that works up and d<r.vn and communicates 

 motion to the handle of a semi-rotary pump. Water is forced 

 by this pump into perforated pipes, from which it is sprayed 

 on to the ground (Fig. 147). 



Fig. 147 Water Tub. 



There is a saw-mill near the top of the hill, and a fitting 

 shop at the foot of the incline near the screens and Pooley's 

 weighing-machine. 



Federal Coke Company. 



These coke works are managed by Mr. J. A. Figtree, and 

 .consist of 40 ovens. These ovens, which are of the McLanahan 

 type an improvement on the old Welsh ovenwere the first 

 of their sort to be erected in Australia, except two built for 

 experimental purposes by the Australian Coke Company, since 

 converted into ordinary beehive ovens, as they had no ram to 

 push out the coke, and the draught passing through the ovens 

 seriously inconvenienced the man drawing the coke at one end. 



These rectangular ovens, except for their form, are to all 

 intents and purposes worked as a beehive, till it comes to tho 

 matter of drawing the coke, when a ram is employed to push 

 it out. In the case of the Federal Coke Company's plant, this 

 is a steam ram. This ram saves much time and labour. The 

 ovens are 30ft. long, 7ft. wide at the ram end, and 8ft. wide 

 at the other end, while the height is 6ft. Being larger than 

 the ordinary beehive, they have a larger capacity, viz., 9J 

 tons, but are also charged twice a week. They could be 

 charged three times a week, but it is found that by burning 

 slowly, with a larger charge, the coke is denser than when 

 burning quicker with a shallower charge. There are two 



