THE THUNDER.

Auckland Examiner, Volume IV, Issue 271, 9 June 1860, Page 2

THE THUNDER.

This fine screw steam-ship has been built and fitted for the purpose of running between Calcutta aud Hong-Kong, with a special view of attaining a greater rate of spied, combined with seagoing qualities, than has yet been attained by the finest vessels now navigating the China Seas. These seas have been the arena of a most spirited contest for some years be-! tween the first-class steamships of the various companies and firms engaged jn that large trade, The Lightnipg, a similar vessel to the Thunder, has been the most successful ; and her owners have had the Thunder built with a view to still keeping possession of the field they have already gained ; and from the annexed results, obtained upon trial, it appears there is every chance of their doing so, she being without doubt the fastest steamer yet built, while her consumption of coal is the lowest yet attained. The dimensions of the Thunder are as follows : —Length between perpendiculars, 240 feet; beam, 30 feet; depth, 22-1 feet; tonnage builder’s measurement, 1062 7294 tons ; her engines are of2lo nominal horse-power ; diameter of cylinders, 55 inches; stroke, 3 feet. She is fitted with belted cylinders, expansion gear, separate thrust, boilers that consume the fuel and heat in furnaces and tubes to the point that the remainder escapes up the chimney and heats the superheater to a temperature of 300 degrees, without regulation. A triaLtrip was made with her on the 3rd inst., when she ran the distance between the Nore and Mouse Lights in thirty minutes, against tide, being at the rate of at least 17 statute miles per hour ; engines making 58 to 60 revolutions per minute, driving the screw direct. The screw, which is of ths ordinary description, is 15 feet in diameter, and 29£ feet pitch, Engines during trial evolved 950 to 1000 indicated horse-power. The numerous party who were on board, including several eminent merchants and scientific engineers, were much pleased with the vessel and her achievements, She is a very handsome vessel, and has not the slightest vibration, even at her immense speed. The Messrs. Dudgeon, ou the following day, had het under way for several hours, to test her consumption of coal. When working with steam at 191 b. pressure, and using full expansion and superheaters, the engines made 54 revolutions per minute regularly; the vessel steamed over fourteen knots per hour, and the consumption of Daffryn steam coal was 8201 b, per hour, or, as near as possible, lib. per indicated horse power per hour, being the greatest result yet obtained from the steam engine. At the time of trial the immersed midship section was 342 feet; displacement, lloQtons. The vessel was designed by Mr. John Dudgeon, of 151, Fenehurch-street, under the instructions of Captain Durham, the engines were made by J. and W. Dudgeon, and the ship was built by Mr. C. Lungley. She is fitted wifh Beattie’s patent screw outside' the rudder, and Beardmore's superheaters to the boilers. She has the most airy acccni-r modation qf any vessel of her class. The Thunder has been taken up by her Majesty’s Government for the conveyance of military stores, guns, &c , for Hong-Kong, and is known as No 1 steam transport. She is now coaling at Woolwich. —[Illustrated London News.]