MARINE ENGINEERING

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 164, 9 April 1934, Page 10

MARINE ENGINEERING

Developments of Past Fifty Years MR. JAS. SMITH HONOURED The remarkable progress of marine engineering during the past half century, covered by the period of active service of Mr. James Smith, retiring superintending engineer of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Ltd., was briefly traced by Mr. P. Mackenzie, president of the New Zealand Institute of Marine and Power Engineers, Wellington branch, in proposing the toast of the guest of honour at the complimentary social gathering tendered to Mr. Smith and his successor, Mr. R. L. Gillies, by the institute on Saturday evening. Mr. Mackenzie said that Mr. Smith was born on the Clyde, served his time in Glasgow and went to sea in 1882, one of his first ships being a paddle steamer on the Clyde, which used to carry ten pounds pressure of steam. In 1884 he came to New Zealand as third engineer with the Black Diamond Company. In 1885 the Union Company took this company over, and soon after this Mr. Smith became chief engineer, serving in several vessels. In 1907 he was appointed assistant superintend-ent-of the company, situated in Auckland. and in 1913 was transferred to Sydney, where he was in charge of the Australian branch of the company. He returned to Wellington in 1920 as chief executive officer’ of the Union Company. 1 “This record of service is second co none ip the history of the mercantile marine of the British Empire,” said Mr. Mackenzie, “and I am pleased to think that Mr. Smith is still to be in harness-and is going Home to compete with younger intelligences in engineering.” Mr. Smith had seen wonderful changes in methods of propulsion. The advance from the paddle steamer to the triple expansion engine saw a great increase in steam pressure, Mr. Mackenzie said. Another revolution in marine engineering took place when Parsons introduced the steam turbine, although it was regarded as just a novelty at the time. The reciprocating engine had then to compete with the turbine. Then came another revolution, with the invention in 1882 of the first internal combustion engine. In 1893 came the diesel engine, but the inventor, Dr. Diesel, was so disappointed with the result that he committed suicide. Now another revolution had come with the turbo-electrical drive. Many Types of Engines. “Mr. Smith has seen every stage of this development,” Mr. Mackenzie continued. “He influenced the Union Company to order the Rangatira, and that vessel has justified his opinion. He has seen the rise of steam pressure from ten pounds to 500 pounds in one lifetime.” Mr. A. Tough, vice-president of the institute, Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, deputychairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. J. P. Luke, manager of Luke Bros., Ltd., and Mr. J. Rankine, past president of the institute, also spoke in support of the toast. Mr. Mackenzie asked Mr. Smith to accept a pair of field glasses as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the institute, and also presents for Mrs. Smith and Miss Smith. Mr Smith, in reply, said he appreciated the remarks of the speakers very much. He paid a tribute to the staffs under him. “These men have never failed me and have always been loyal,” he said. The management of the Union Company had always made his job easy. “It is just gone 50 years since I arrived in Wellington, and since I joined the institute, which was a very small organisation then,” he said. In speaking of the advance of marine engineering, Mr. Smith said that in recent years the Diesel engine had come more and more to the fore, until last year 70 per cent, of shipping was fitted with that engine. Shipowners had never had the chance they had to-day of getting so many types of engines. There were dozens of different Diesel engines alone. f Mr. Smith’s Successor. Mr. Smith proposed the toast of his successor’ as superintending engineer to the company, Mr. R. L. Gillies, assuring him that-he would have a loyal staff, the staff that, it would have a sympathetic chief, and Mr. Gillies that he would have a sympathetic manager in his troubles. Mr. Gillies, replying, said it was a great pleasure to him to be honoured in that way, but a still greater way to see how the institute had honoured “our chief.”. .

The toast “The Visitors” was submitted by the chairman, Mr. Mackenzie, and replies were made by Mr. G. E. Breeze, chief surveyor of .ships, Marine Department; Mr. G. W. Unswortb, chief executive engineer, Marine Department; Mr. W. H. Price, Wellington manager, Union Steam Ship Company; and Mr. C. B. V. Wheeler, general traffic manager, Union Steam .Ship Company. The' toast “The Press” was proposed by Mr. D. Laing. Apologies for absence and best wishes to Mr. Smith were -received from the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. Minister of Marine; Sir Charles Holdsworth, of the London directorate; Mr. D. A. Aiken, managing director, Union Company ; Mr. A. W. Wheeler, joint general manager, Union Company; Mr. W G. Smith, industrial superintendent, Union Company; Captain Webb, marine superintendent, Union Company; Mr. C. M. Turrell, chairman, Wellington Harbour Board; Mr. James Cable, J. Cable and Co.; Mr. Albert Basire, late president of the institute; Mr. A. R. Hislop, A. R. Hislop and Co.: Mr. I). S. Kerr, superintending engineer, Canterbury Steam Ship Co.: and Mr. E. E. Low, chief engineer of tlie Wilbine. Greetings wgre received from the Auckland branch of the institute. Musical and elocutionary items were contributed by Messrs. V. Jones, T. Ganly, G. Laing, W. Coleman, W. Gadier, and the president. Mr. Mackenzie.