When the sohooner Waiapu oime up the river about noon on Wednesday last at a fairly good rate of speed and with nothing in the way of sails to carry her .along, there were not a few anxious to know wherein lay the hidden motive power. After the natty looking little vessel had been securely berthed at the town wharf and it was elicited that she had arrived from Gisborne with 500 saoks of gram seed, Captain Martin soon explained away any apnarent mystery conneoted with her movements. Situated aft is a 12 h.p gaioline engine— iv very oompact form— connected with a small dynamo, and this provides tbe motive power, driving the schooner by means of her serew — which disconnects at will— at the rate of fully six knots and hour; in deed, taking relatively tho size of the veuel it seems wonderful that so small » piece of machinery is capable of doing so much work. In expressing himself as thoroughly satisfied with its working, Captain Martin atates that about a month ago the engine drove tho vessel laden with 56,000 feet of sawn timber over the Kaipara bar against a heavy sea. We understand that several of the small vessels employed on the coastal trade in the North an fitted up with these handy engines, amongst them the new schooner Medora.
