A Copra Drier

Designed by Mr. P. D. Good, Whose Death is Reported

(In the last letter written to the editor of the “PIM” bv Mr. P. D. Good, of Kessa Plantation, Buka, New Guinea, before the Pacific war, we were given his permission to use the following material from the “Rabaul Times”. The Japs are now in occupation of Kessa, and unconfirmed but circumstantial reports which have reached Sydney say that Mr.

Good was murdered by them about the end of February.) MR. P. D. Good, the owner of Kessa Plantation, in Buka, and a man who has spent considerable time in ex perimenting with various types of copra driers, paid us a visit the other day and showed us a plan, with comprehensive details, of a new type of drier, which has proved very successful on his estate at Kessa. for the past 18 months.

The main feature is the large corru gated tunnel-like smoke-box which is constructed of arched galvanised iron, and is completely self-supporting, though it is 6 feet high and 6 feet wide, and 44 feet long. There are stable doors and two 5-inch down-pipes at each end; also four split drums which contain the fire.

At the centre there are two 6-inch down-pipes which draw tne heat over the gap between the fires. The lower copra bed rests across 7 feet iron walls, which complete the hot-air room; access to this room is by doors at each end. A second bed, about 18 inches above the first, is necessary, and a third bed could also be installed, but it is really not necessary.

Cemented platforms on each side of the beds, raised to about 2i feet below the first bed, and windows and shutters in the outer walls, make working very easy. Bag curtains are convenient, and sufficient to keep the heat on the copra.

Mr. Good stated that he has received several requests for particulars of this drier, and as a result made a compre hensive plan, a copy of which he handed to the secretary of the Planters’ Associa tion in' Rabaul for the benefit of mem bers of the Association. Mr. Good took the necessary steps to have the plan copyrighted.

Describing the drier, Mr. Good stated that the heating unit requires little attention, is easy to construct, and is comparatively cheap. It could safely be built of native material.