THE RIG OF STEAMSHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 99, 27 April 1889, Page 4

THE RIG OF STEAMSHIPS.

Almost all persons who take any intere3^ at all in shipping matters will have been struck by the little better than an apology for canvas which nowadays is carried by the modern mail - steamer. Indeed, like the modern battle-ship — the fighting armour - clad Orlando for instance — the fast mailboat's rig, in so far as sail is concerned, partakes chiefly of the ornamental ratherthan the practical. Captain F. Fox, of Sydney, an ex-master in tho P. and 0. Co.'s service, upon the subject of the rig of steamships recently said : —"Theideal rig for an ocean-going steamship, in my opinion, is one that can at will bo reduced to the barest semblance of sail-carrying capacity, and also be readily and with rapidity increased i in extent the moment the occasion arises for the auxiliary aid of canvas. You cannot have it all your own way either in voyages across the trades or within the range of the monsoons, and the masts and yards that spread your sails to the slashing fair wind out, may become very much of a drawback going home. The last time I made the passage across from Bombay to Aden in the height of the S,W, monsoon,

just 20 years ago last summer, we had j nothing above her lower masts aloft in tho old Salsette — everything else, topmasts and topgallantmasts with all the yards being lashed on deck in preparation forthe fortnight's pile-driving we had to encounter across the Arabian Gulf. Our rig was of little use then, except indeed in case anything occurred to the engines, when it would have been invaluable, and then it was ready for use if wanted. I may add that I do not envy any captain who finds himself with defective machinery in the full burst of the monsoon without a serviceable rig for his ship to fall back upon. Unless for special voyages, where the conditions demand it, my own impressions are very much in favour of a large spread of fore-and-aft canvas for oceangoing steamships, which necessitates the smallest possible impediment aloft to the vessel's progress when the sails are not in use. Steamships with four masts, the lower oues being much tauter than is gensraliy the custom now, would b9 enabled to carry large trysails and staysails with the addition of telescope topmasts?, also fitted for loftier sails of the same character, and would be thus provided with all the canvas necessary for voyages not taking them over the track of trade winds or monsoons, and would probably gain better results in the way of speed than if oheso vessels carried square yards permanently aloft. But that they should be provided with these yards and the necessary rigging and gear to fall back upon in case of a break-down, seems also very advisable."