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Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 87, 7 January 1926, Page 9

The overseas steamer Port Melbourne, which arrived at Port Chalmers on Sunday from Australian ports to load produce, steers herself, a man at the wheel being no longer required (says the “Otago Daily 'Times”). She is fitted with the automatic steering apparatus known technically as the Sperry gyroscopic compass and gyro pilot. This is the latest labour-saving device on board ship, and it serves its purpose effectively. The Port Melbourne steered herself from England to Australia and then across the Tasman. The gyro pilot, or mechanical helmsman, is contained in a steering column mounted on the bridge, and close to the ship’s steering wheel, to which it is connected by a roller-driving chain. A simple contact-maker is actuated by the gyroscopic compass, and is used to control the ship’s wheel. Thus the slightest departure of the ship from the set course automatically applies the necessary amount of corrective rudder to check the ship and return her to her true course, awing and sag in steering arc, therefore, reduced to a minimum, varying from one in five to one in nine, as compared with hand steering The reduced rudder action means reduced friction, and consequently increased speed. This automatic steering practically eliminates the human liability of error with which the navigator lias to reckon in hand steering. Sir D. G. H. Bradlev, navigating officer of the Port Melbourne, says that the device has been a success in all weathers. It has also meant an increase of a quarter of a knot in the ship s speed.

In all probability in the next few weeks Napier will be visited by the small auxiliary schooner France, in which the Whitney South Sea Expedition of the American Museum of Natural History has been studying bird life all over the South Pacific for the last five years (states the “Hawke’s Bay Herald”) The Napier. Thirty Thousand Club, aware of the object, the leader, Mr. Rollo H. Beck, wrote to the France when it put into Auckland, enclosing a booklet of Napier scenes and inviting the expedition to visit Napier, and include in their studies the gannets at Cape Kidnappers. A reply has been received from Mr. Beck to the effect that the France will shortly be leaving for the islands south of New Zealand, but on returning he hopes to be able to pay a visit.

As an indication of the large amount of motor traffic which has passed along the Main South Road during the holidays, a traveller reports having counted one hundred and twenty-six empty petrol tins scattered along the wavside between Ashburton and Norwood (states the “Lvttelton Innes ). The shining objects in some places, he considered, constitute a real danger to horse traffic. _____