Feb. 19.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 571

of bars acting repeatedly and alternately on opposite sides of
the projecting material and breaking it alternately against
the upper and lower break-bar. (19.) In a machine for treat-
ing fibrous material, opposite mechanisms each operating re-
peatedly and alternately in opposite directions upon opposite
sides of the same portion of the material, and means for pre-
senting the material simultaneously to both mechanisms pro-
gressively from opposite ends thereof toward the centres.
(20.) The combination of two fibre breaking and cleaning
mechanisms, one extending beyond the other, means for feed-
ing fibrous material simultaneously to both mechanisms, and
auxiliary feed means for carrying the fibres along said ex-
tended mechanism, consisting of a screw having a longi-
tudinal solid portion and a coasting roller. (21.) In a
machine for breaking and cleaning fibrous material, the com-
bination, with a pair of parallel and slightly separated break-
bars, between which the material is presented, of independent
oppositely moving alternately acting, breaking, and scutching
devices co-operating respectively with the upper and lower
break-bar. (22.) In a fibre breaking and scutching machine,
a pair of parallel and slightly separated concaves, oppositely
moving alternately acting blades each coasting with one con-
cave, and means for feeding fibrous material along and be-
tween said concaves. (23.) The combination with a break-bar
and coasting breaking-mechanism, of a fibre-feed screw beside
said break-bar. (24.) In a fibre breaking and cleaning ma-
chine, a central triangular platform, converging break-bars
along the opposite sides thereof, breaking and scutching de-
vices co-operating with said break-bars, and means for feeding
the material laterally over said platform and along said
break-bars and co-operating devices. (25.) In a machine for
breaking and cleaning fibrous material, the combination of a
double inclined platform, a central carrier co-operating there-
with, and opposite breaking and cleaning mechanisms at the
opposite sides and lower edges of said platform, with means
for feeding stalks laterally toward said platform, and mechan-
ism for centrally cracking the stalks to cause them to hang
over the platform.
(Specification, 15s.; drawings, 4s.)

No. 15951.—4th February, 1903.—ALBERT EDELMANN, of
Dunedin, New Zealand, Doctor of Medicine. Improved
manufacture of artificial fuel.

Claims.—(1.) The process of making artificial fuel, which
consists in grinding lignite or other coal to powder and mixing
with it another compound formed of resinous and other
chemicals such as described, and compressing into solid
brickets. (2.) An artificial fuel composed of lignite coal or
ordinary combustible coal ground to powdered form and
mixed with a powder composed of Russian cheske, white
bark from the brazos tree, zevietsa, cobra, and bitumen, in
the proportions named, and compressed into brickets, sub-
stantially as set forth. (3.) The use in the manufacture of
artificial fuel of any of the various vegetable ingredients set
forth in claim 2, with ground coal and with or without
bitumen.
(Specification, 3s. 3d.)

No. 15960.—10th February, 1903.—CARL TUNSTILL JOHN
OPPERMANN, of 2, Wynyatt Street, Clerkenwell, London,
England, Electrical Engineer. Improvements in secondary
batteries.

Claims.—(1.) In a secondary battery, the combination
with the lead-oxide constituting the active material of Trini-
dad bitumen which has been precipitated from solution
amongst the particles of active material, so as to cement
together the said particles and thereby render the material
harder or more coherent and also more permanently con-
ductive. (2.) In the preparation of the active material for
the plates of a secondary battery, the combination with lead-
oxide of Trinidad bitumen in solution in a hydrocarbon.
(3.) In the preparation of the active material for the plates
of a secondary battery, the combination with lead-oxide of
Trinidad bitumen in solution in a hydrocarbon, with the
addition of sufficient dilute sulphuric acid to form a work-
able paste. (4.) A composition for a secondary-battery plate,
consisting of active material admixed with a solution of
Trinidad bitumen in solution in a hydrocarbon, and with
dilute sulphuric acid.
(Specification, 3s.)

No. 15963.—10th February, 1903.—WILLIAM DAVID
QUIGLEY and JOSEPH HENRY GAY, both of Newark, Essex,
New Jersey, United States of America, Machinists, whose joint
post-office address is 20, Bruen Street, Newark aforesaid.
Leather-splitting machine.

Claims.—(1.) The two drawing-in rolls and the knife con-
structed and arranged in position relatively to one another
so that the knife acts upon the hide at the place of maximum
compression between the rolls, substantially as described.
(2.) In combination with the drawing-in roll H, the devices
for adjusting the same with respect to the drawing-in roll L
and knife, substantially as described. (3.) In combination
with the drawing-in roll L, the devices for adjusting the
same with respect to the drawing-in roll H and knife, sub-
stantially as described. (4.) In combination with the band
knife M, the supporting-wheels N O and devices for adjusting
the parallelism of the parts of the knife-blade on opposite
sides of the wheel-centres, substantially as described. (5.) In
combination with the travelling band knife, the devices for
continuously sharpening said knife-edge during its move-
ment, substantially as described. (6.) In combination with
the travelling band knife M, the rotary grinder and the
whets acting successively on the knife during its movement,
substantially as described. (7.) The whet-plate having a cir-
cular depression on its working-face, substantially as de-
scribed. (8.) The combination of the travelling knife with
the pivoted whetting-plate having a circular depression on
its working-face, substantially as described. (9.) The com-
bination of the travelling knife with the whet-plate, sup-
ported on a universal joint device and in contact with said
knife, substantially as described.
(Specification, 10s.; drawings, 12s.)

No. 15971.—12th February, 1903.—WILLIAM CHARLES
HAVELOCK HUDSON, of Joels Buildings, Crawford Street,
Dunedin, New Zealand, Rabbit-trapper. Improvements in
rabbit-traps.

Claims.—(1.) The improvements in rabbit-traps consisting
of the parts arranged, combined, and operating substantially
as set forth. (2.) In a rabbit-trap, a treadle in two parts
hinged together, and wings hinged to the parts of said
treadle, substantially in the manner described and illustrated.
(3.) In a rabbit-trap, a treadle upon each side of which wings
are hinged, substantially in the manner described and illus-
trated.
(Specification, 1s. 3d.; drawings, 1s.)

No. 15972.—12th February, 1903.—JOHN SAMUEL RIGBY,
of Bagot Street, Wavertree, Liverpool, Lancaster, England,
Manufacturing Chemist. Improvements in the manufacture
of bricks and artificial stone.

Claims.—(1.) The manufacture of bricks or artificial stone
from lime (hydrated in the manner described and in a finely
divided state) and sand, said hydrated lime and sand being
mixed together and pressed or moulded into the desired
form, substantially as set forth. (2.) In the manufacture of
bricks or artificial stone from lime and sand, or cement
(such as Portland cement) and sand or granular or broken
material, the described mode of supplying and combining
said materials consisting in holding the said material in
bulk in separate containers, each having connected with it a
weighing-machine disposed below same and discharging into
same, and conveyors for taking the respective materials from
the weighing-machines at the required proportional rates,
and delivering same at said proportional rates into a mixer,
whereby the required proportions of materials and a homo-
geneous mixture are obtained, substantially as described.
(3.) In the manufacture of artificial stone from cement
(such as Portland cement) and sand or granular or broken
materials, subjecting the stone, after being mixed with
water and pressed or moulded to the required form, to steam
or hot water under pressure, whereby such stone is rendered
ready for use directly after such treatment, substantially as
described. (4.) The manufacture of artificial stone from
cement (such as Portland cement) and sand or granular or
broken material, and “puzzolana” or “trass,” which,
after they are mixed together with water, are pressed or
moulded to the required shape, and the blocks or slabs so
made are matured or “aged” by subjecting them to steam
or hot water under pressure, substantially as described.
(5.) In the manufacture of artificial stone from cement (such
as Portland cement) and sand or granular or broken ma-
terials, subjecting the stone, after being mixed together with
water and pressed or moulded to the required form, to steam
or hot water and carbonic anhydride (CO₂) under pressure,
whereby such stone is rendered ready for use directly after
such treatment, and discolouration prevented, substantially
as described. (6.) Machinery or apparatus for making bricks
and artificial stone, consisting of parts arranged, combined,
and adapted to operate as set forth, with reference to and
shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and Figs. 4 and 5 respectively
of the drawings.
(Specification, 6s.; drawings, 2s.)