HISTORY OF SHIPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 210, 5 September 1930, Page 3

HISTORY OF SHIPPING.

SKIN BOATS TO LINERS.

THE FIRST WAR VESSELS.

ADDRESS BY CAPTAIN SERGEANT.

The history of the progress of shipping was briefly recounted by Captain H. H. Sergeant, Auckland harbourmaster, in the course of an address last night to members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Mr. N. L. Mackay presided. Captain Sergeant had prepared a number of sketches illustrating the various types of the earliest known vessels, dating back to 4000 B.C. Other drawings depicted the Mediterranean Sea and the coast of Africa, which was known to the early navigators of Egypt. The first boats were crude affairs of reeds and skins used to cross rivers. Then larger boats were built, and short voyages along the coastline were made. It was a long time before they ventured out of sight of land, but with the discovery of the lodestone, a crude form of compass, was made. It was a needle placed on cork, floating in a bowl of water, which enabled the boldest to find their way. The encircling of Africa by the Phoenicians in 500 8.C., which took three years to accomplish, was one of the earliest recorded voyages.

The ancient vessels were built high both fore and aft. The stern was the highest part, and they were usually moored stern first. For centuries all boats were propelled by droves of oarsmen, one tier above the other. Sails were first used as auxiliary power, but finally they ousted the oars.

About the time of the Roman invasion of Britain boats were in general use, the British type being better sea-going craft than the Mediterranean, and capable of standing up to the weather experienced in the North Sea. The Viking ships were better still, and they made many voyages.

First Sea-Fight. Britain developed the art of shipbuilding, and was the first nation to have a fleet of war vessels. In 1340 700 craft were used against the French in the first naval battle. Most of them, were trawling vessels, which went back to their work after the fight. Sea terms, which continue to this day, came into general use in the reign of Henry V., also a code of laws relating to crews, cargo and lading.

Coming to the age of steam, Captain Sergeant said it was between the years 1790 and 1800 that steam was first applied to the propulsion of vessels, but until the Suez Caaal was opened steam vessels did not come into general use as traders. In 1808 the first practical steamer, the Charlotte Dundas, was launched, while the first iron ship was built in 1819. The Atlantic was crossed by two steamships in 1838, and the Cunard and P. and O. Companies were founded in the same year. The first English steam line of battleship was the Aganienon, launched in 1852.

Heyday of the Sailers. During the earlier part of the nineteenth century the sailing ship reached its zenith. Among the most famous sailing clippers was the Lightning, whose record sail in 24 hours of 436 miles has never since been equalled by a sailing vessel. Another ship, the Marco Polo, which was 185 ft long, with a beam of 38ft, and had three decks, carried 930 emigrants and a crew of 60 from Liverpool to Melbourne in 68 days, beating the steamer Australia by a week. In the Australian wool trade sailing vessels survived the longest, holding their own until the 'eighties.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century steel sailing vessels increased in size, and the Germans and French built some very large ships, principally for the nitrate trade, the largest being the fivemasted barque Prance, a 5000 tons ship. During the war a number of sailing vessels made their appearance, but to-day, except for a few owned in Norway, there were not many afloat. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Captain Sargeant on the motion of Mr. Mackay, after which the various prints were ifispcted, and a number of questions were asked and answered.