Mar. 15.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 571

forming mechanism, substantially as described. (2.) The combination with a laterally movable head of stitch-forming and stitch-separating tools mounted in said head, means to actuate said head and tools, means for varying the lateral movement of the head, and mechanism for adjusting the working-end of the stitch-separating tool toward and from the stitch-forming tool simultaneously with the adjustment for varying the lateral movement of the head, substantially as described. (3.) The combination with a swinging frame of vertically reciprocating bars mounted in said swinging frame, a stitch-forming tool carried by one bar, and a stitch-separating tool carried by the other bar, means to vary the swinging movements of the swinging frame, connected mechanism to adjust the stitch-separating tool and its bar toward and from the stitch-forming tool and its bar simultaneously with the adjustment of the movement of the swinging frame, and a retaining device to maintain said adjustment, substantially as described. (4.) The combination with a stitch-forming tool, and means to move the said tool toward and from the work, of a thread-slackener, arranged to be projected toward and from the line of stitches formed by the stitch-forming tool, and to have a lateral movement toward and away from the said tool between said tool and the standing thread, a horizontal reciprocating rod carrying said thread-slackener, a pivoted bearing for said rod, and means to reciprocate and oscillate said rod, substantially as described.

(Specification, 17s. 6d.; drawings, £1 1s.)

No. 12375.—6th February, 1900.—JOHN GRANT, of Wallace-town, New Zealand, Farmer, and ALEXANDER STORRIE, of Invercargill, New Zealand, Implement maker. An improved drag-point for attaching to grain coulter or hoes.

Claims.—(1.) A renewable and removable drag-point, substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated. (2.) In a coulter or hoe of any shape, as set forth in the drawing, a separate drag-point to be attached, substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated. (3.) A removable point, to be attached by means of bolts, clips, or wedge, substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated.

(Specification, 1s. 9d.; drawings, 3s.)

No. 12399.—15th February, 1900.—ROBERT ARTHUR SIMPSON, of Wright’s Bush, Southland, New Zealand, Farmer. Improvements in hat-pins.

Claim.—Improvements in hat-pins, consisting of the combination of ordinary straight hat-pins with a spiral point, as substantially described and as explained in the specifications, and for the purposes set forth.

(Specification, 1s. 3d.)

No. 12401.—20th February, 1900.—JOHN COATES, of 23, Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Civil Engineer (assignee of George Roscoe Cottrell, of 8, Morris Street, New York, United States of America, Gas Engineer). Apparatus for measuring and mixing gas and air.

Claims.—(1.) In a mixing-meter, the propelling-drum constructed with screw vanes, each having one or more driving-shoulders at the receiving-end of the drum, outside of the measuring-compartments, for causing the revolution of the drum by the pressure of gas against said shoulders, and means for supplying gas, substantially as set forth. (2.) In a mixing-meter, the propelling-drum having screw vanes provided each with one or more exterior driving-shoulders at the receiving-end of the drum, and an interior driving-shoulder in the interior of the measuring-compartments for causing the revolution of the drum by the pressure of the gas against said shoulders, and means for supplying gas, substantially as set forth. (3.) In a mixing-meter, a drum constructed with screw vanes, forming screw measuring-compartments having comparatively narrow openings at the inlet end of the drum, and of gradually increasing width in cross-section and comparatively wide openings at the discharge end of the drum, for decreasing the resistance to the revolution of the drum, and facilitating the flow or passage of both gas or aeriform fluid and the sealing-liquid through the measuring-compartments, substantially as set forth. (4.) A meter-drum, divided by spiral vanes into screw measuring-compartments, having narrow inlets at the receiving-end, and wide outlets at the discharge end of the drum for decreasing the resistance and facilitating the revolution of the drum, substantially as set forth. (5.) A gas-and-air-mixing meter, comprising a propelling gas-drum and an induction air-drum mounted on the same shaft, said gas drum having vanes provided with driving-shoulders at the receiving-end of the drum, and means for

supplying gas to bear against said shoulders, whereby said drum and the air-drum are more readily revolved by pressure of gas being metered, substantially as set forth. (6.) A gas-and-air-mixing meter, comprising a propelling drum constructed with vanes, one or more of which has an exterior driving-shoulder at the receiving-end, and an air-measuring drum having narrow inlets at the receiving-end and wide outlets at the discharge end, both drums being mounted on the same shaft, substantially as set forth. (7.) In a mixing-meter, the gas-drum constructed with a cylindrical shell, a shaft, a gas-receiving chamber as e, spiral screw vanes between said receiving-chamber and the discharge end of the drum, said vanes having each one or more driving-shoulders in the receiving-chamber, and means for supplying gas to the latter chamber to bear against such shoulders, substantially as set forth. (8.) In a mixing-meter, the gas-drum constructed with a cylindrical shell and a gas-receiving chamber on a shaft, a gas-supply pipe therefor, spiral vanes forming screw measuring-compartments between said receiving-chamber and the discharge end of the drum, said vanes having each one or more radial driving-shoulders in the receiving-chamber for revolving the drum by the pressure of gas against said shoulders, substantially as set forth. (9.) A gas-and-air-mixing meter, comprising a propelling gas-drum and an air-measuring drum mounted on the same shaft, and each having a receiving-chamber provided respectively with a gas- and air-inlet, said gas-drum having vanes provided at the receiving-end of the drum with a driving-shoulder, and said air-drum having smooth spiral vanes forming screw measuring-compartments between them, substantially as set forth.

(Specification, 12s. 6d.; drawings, 10s. 6d.)

No. 12424.—28th February, 1900.—WILLIAM JAMES MUIR, of Poowong East, Victoria, Farmer. Improvements in bucket-supports and the like.

Claims.—(1.) In a bucket-support or the like, the combination with a suspended band having a loop or the like B, and a tongue F, with lugs or ears G, of links as D, E, connected to said band and to one another as by a part C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. (2.) In a bucket-support or the like, the combination with a suspended band of the parts referred to hereinbefore under the respective designations B, C, D, and E. (3.) In a bucket-support or the like, the combination as a whole of all the parts referred to under the designations A to H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

(Specification, 2s. 6d.; drawings, 3s.)

No. 12429.—1st March, 1900.—ALEXANDRE TROPENAS, of 6, Rue d’Erlanger, Paris, France, Engineer. Improvements in the manufacture of steel, and apparatus or furnaces therefor.

Claims.—(1.) An apparatus comprising within its enclosed space or interior part two separate and distinct portions, both shaped and adapted to be used at will, one as a crucible or converter, and the other as an open-hearth furnace, and provided with means whereby the metal bath in one such portion may be transferred to the other at will, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. (2.) An open-hearth furnace and crucible or converter combined in a single structure, and being respectively parts of a single enclosed space, and equipped and adapted to be separately operated as an open-hearth furnace and converter respectively, such structure being adapted to be rocked or tilted to cause the material or bath in the converter to run into the open-hearth furnace, and vice versâ, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. (3.) A structure constituting an open-hearth furnace, provided with the usual equipment or adjuncts of such a furnace, having mounted thereon a crucible or converter at one side of the floor of the open-hearth furnace, opening into the enclosed space, and having the usual or proper equipment or adjuncts of a converter, the structure being so constructed and mounted as to be capable of a rocking or tilting movement that will cause the molten bath in the converter to flow into the open-hearth furnace, substantially as set forth. (4.) A closed structure comprising an open-hearth furnace, with the necessary or usual equipment, having mounted at one side of the floor thereof, and opening into the enclosed space, a removably attached crucible constituting a converter, which is provided with tuyères and blowing apparatus; such structure being so made and mounted as to be capable of being rocked or tilted to run the contents of the crucible upon the floor of the open-hearth furnace. (5.) An elongated hollow structure, one portion of the interior of which constitutes the suitable floor of an open-hearth furnace, open-hearth burners arranged in the ends of the structure in