INSPECTION OF MACHINERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 164, 13 July 1910, Page 2

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY.

SURVEYING OF SHIPS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) - WELLINGTON, this day. In the annual report of the Depart- . •ment for the Inspection of Machinery, •etc., presented to Parliament to-day by the Hon. -J. A. Millar, the chief inspector ] (Mr. Eobert Duncan) states that he has 1 great pleasure in recording probably the _ test years work yet accomplished by the Department. All the shipping, sur- ' vey, and inspection of vessels is practically up to date. Each year shows a ' larger number of vessels to be dealt ' with, and the size of modern intercolonial liners demands much closer and more careful survey. The passing of the Inspection of Machinery Amendment "| Act in 190S threw more work on the Department in the matter of inspection . oi steam jacketed pa_3, steam receivers, and steam vessels used in many and , varied manufactures; and the danger in j ihe use of these appliances has been shown in the pressure hitherto carried -j in some of them, which was sometimes j much in excess of what the strength and dimensions of the material war- ] ranted. l Mr. Duncan states that oil engines, i gas engines, and gas-producer plants are still largely used for power purposes and some New Zealand firms are making oil engines that compare favourably with the imported article for finish, usefulness, and price. t The number of boilers inspected during the year twas 6204, some others having not "been inspected, the districts in arrear in the matter of inspection being mostly in the more inaccessible parts , oi the North Island. The practice of i submitting jlans and specifications of 1 a new boiler before pressure can be • granted has worked well, as points in ] dispute can be discussed and modifica- < tions made without entailing the cost , that would otherwise ensue. Defects in j boilers and fittings numbered 1375. The total number of new boilers added was ! 490, totalling 45,242 hoVse-power. Of , this number 303 were made in the Dominion, and IST were imported. The fencing round of lift wells and machinery in motion had received special attention. There were fewer candidates for en-gine-drivers' _____nations than the previous year. Altogether 660 candidates sat, and 424 of them passed. The examination of marine engineers was fully ___nt_in_d, and the system worked smoothly. Out of 207 candidates only ; W failed. The report sta.'es that the •work at the four principal ports in the , surveying of steamers" and auxiliarypoweTed vessels has been fairly heavy, 363 vessels having been surveyed, the fees amounting to £2026. Great attention was paid to the proposal that boilers of cargo vessels, built under the rules of Lloyd's registry, should run , with preesure granted by that body m Great Britain,- and-it was decided to _p___it those having'bbner certificates Irom Lloyd's Registry to retain their . •pressures. Fifty-two special surveys for , iea-wortbiness were made, and the super- < vision oi repairs was under the surveyor of shins ma3dng the survey. , Twelve' sailing-ships were, surveyed, and most of them had' repairs affected to . them. Mr. Duncan states that he visit--ed man-y shipowners, and as a result, the mode of procedure in dealing wrtb -the survey of steamers was somewhat " modified to lessen- expense to the shipowner, and to meet him m the matter of suitable "times for the surveys. The Department's efforts to make ships safe were appreciated wholeheartedly by the -owners. .In regard to accidents, the report states that no bbder explosion took place during the year. A great dumber of accidents with machinery were dixe to carelessness, especially with Woodworking machinery, which runs £*• _ high speed. The guarding of saws has been specially dealt with for years.