ADDITIONS OT THE BRITISH NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 119, 20 May 1892, Page 2

ADDITIONS OT THE BRITISH NAVY.

Lora George Hamilton in his fetes b statoment explanatory of the naval estimates says:—We have decided to make preparations for the commencement of a Jew scheme of shipbuilding, but for the year 1892-93 to limit ib to laying down three new battleships. The largest number of cruisers now advancing and completing have placed us, in comparison with other nations, so far as this class of warship is concerned, in a favourable position The principal features to; be embodied in the designs of now battleships have bW carefully considered by the Board, lljth special reference to recont foreign divbmlutng policy and the latest devefor.ments of armaments, armour, and profiling machinery. Ib has been decided that

the introduction of quick-firing guns of latge calibres, and the use of high explosives, necessitate changes in the character and distribution of the protective hull-armour and the increase of protection ,bo gun crews.

It has since been determined that further steps must be taken in the direction followed in tho Royal Sovereign and Centurion classes, so as to givo greater relative power and prominence to the secondary armament of quick-firing guns. Before the dockyard vote is disposed of, full details of tho main features of the new vessels will be laid bofore Parliament. Por the present ib is sufficient to' say that they will be first-class battleships of largor displacement, of high freeboard and speed, largo coal capacity, and carrying as a main armament four guns of largo calibro, nnd as a subsidiary armament a largo number of well-protected quickfiring 1001b gems. The new programme commences modestly, comprising at present only three battleships and ton torpedoboats, bub in the course of tho nexb twelve months I propose to extend and elaborate a much larger scheme for submission to Parliament next year, so that tho material may be bought and tho arrangements made for a fresh start early in 1893-9-t. The amount available during tho next five years for a new programme, if tho sum now voted for new construction remains unaltered, is about £8,000,000, independent of the cost of armament, and exclusive of the completion of bhe Naval Defence Act.

Tho following is tho summary of tho work proposed to be done during 1892-93 : —Under new construction : Ten vessels will bo completed; twenty will bo advanced sufficiently to be completed by 1893-9 _; two iron-clads will bo commenced iv the dockyards, and one by contract; ton first-class torpedo-boats will be commenced by contract. Under reconstruction : Five ironclads of bhe older typo aro to be finished, and two more to bo advanced sufficiently to be finished in 1893----94; This is independent of the contractbuilt ships of the Naval Defence Act, nine of which will bo completed aftor delivery thia year, and fifteen are to be materially advanced.