Ships and the Sea

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1926, Page 24

Ships and the Sea

In Appreciation.

The aronnd-the-world ernise undertakes by the Canadian Pacific liner Empress of France during the winter of 1924-25 had a pleasing sequel at Southampton on 30th October. A silver cup, 27in high and weighing 157 ounces, was presented to the ship by Mr. C. S. Quartermaine, on behalf of the party on board during the cruise. The cup is a copy of the gold Entente Cordiale Cup presented to France by H.M. King Edward VIL, and has been given as a token of tho passengers' appreciation of a successful and enjoyable voyage of 34,----000 miles. The inscription on the cup, which is to be placed in a niche in the liner's library, is as follows:— "Presented to the Canadian Pacific H.M.S. Empress of France by passengers on the 1925 cruise, in appreciation of a remarkably successful voyage of 34,000 miles." A replica was presented to the commander of the Empress of France, Captain E. Griffiths, B.N.R.

Southampton Sock Mishap,

The first mishap to Southampton's great floating dock occurred recently, but the damage was, such that it could easily be repaired, says an English shipping journal. The port tail shaft belonging to the Bed Star liner' Belgcnland had been drawn as part of the vessel's overhaul, and while it was being replaced it dropped on to the bottom pontoon or floor of the dock. Owing to its great weight— about 20 tons—it broke through the steel plates of the dock, and at the point where the end of the shaft struck tho floor a hole three or four feet in diameter was made. After remaining in port for five weeks for repairs to her rudder the Canadian Pacific liner Empress, of France resumed her place in the company's express service to Canada. ■ ,

Sunken Treasure,

The recent organising of an expedition, .under Lieutenant Kealey, to search for £14,000,000 worth of pirate treasure, reported to be hidden on Cocos Island, revives stories of bullion more closely associated with Australia, says a writer in the "World's News." For instance, in 1629, the Dutch frigate Batavia, heavily laden with treasure, was -wrecked on the West Australian coast. Three hundred got ashore, and the captain went off in a small boat to get assistance. In his absence, mutineers wiped out an opposition of 125. The captain returned, and in his turn wiped out the mutineers, and recovered some of tlie cargo of chests of silver. Many attempts have been made to get th^ balance, and in Perth as late as 1909 there was an old salt with a thumbmarked chart, endeavouring to enlist capital on a treasure hunt proposition to get the remainder. Another Dutch boat went down on the Wast Australian coast in 1656, when D. Jones collected 78,600 guilders. The Royal Charles had £80,000 in gold from Australia when she sank off the English coast in 1857, but most of it has been recovered. The biggest personal loss in Australian wrecks was when N the little Clonmel want to pieces near Sydney on her way to Melbourne, ami one W. O. Robinson lost £3000.

Luncheon In Befrifmted Chamber.

Those who were privileged to fee on board the M.B. Upwey Orange, in addition to being favoured by fine weather had a somewhat unique experience, for the vessel having ,only limited passenger accommodation, the luncheon which took place during the trials was served in one of the vessel's refrigerated chambers, which was suitably decorated for the occasion. It required some imagination, says the "Syren and Shipping," to visualise the noble array of beef with which the room would be subsequently hung, just as it did to appreciate the fact that its normal temperature would be below the freezing point. It certainly, was considerably above during the function, over which Sir Alexander M. Kennedy, chairman and managing director of the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, presided, and which was a very enjoyable one-

Wireless for Ships' Boats,

Special wireless apparatus for ships' lifeboats has been manufactured by the Marconi Company for some years, says "^airplay." The Trevessa disaster emphasised the need for the more general use of such installations, and the Merchant Shipping (Life-«aving Appliance) Boles of the Board of Trade, which came into force in July, 1925, render it obligatory for a specified number of lifeboats on certain classes of ships to carry wireless apparatus. Briefly, the regulations require that a foreign-going ship carrying more than ten lifeboats shall have one of them equipped for wireless telegraphy. Where there are more than fifteen boats, one of them shall be a motor-boat with a wireless installation; and two such motorboats, similarly equipped, shall be carried when the number of lifeboats exceeds twenty. The Marconi J-k.w. lifeboat set which is fitted in the Elizabeth and Blanche has been designed to comply with these regulations, and to give as efficient a wireless service as possible, without adding more than is necessary to the weight to be carried by the lifeboat.

Panama Canal Betnrns.

The gross revenue of the Panama Canal during the last fiscal years was 21,400,523 dollars, against 24,290,963 dollars in 1924. The number of tollpaying ships passing through the canal was 4673, as against 5230. The decline is attributed to the slump in oil shipments from California, other traffic showing an increase from 17,----081,824 to 17,933,468 tons. American vessels carried 54.6 per cent, of the traffic; British, 24.6; Japanese, 3.9; Norwegian, 3.5; German, 3.4; Dutch, 2.5; and French 2 per cent.

Appropriate Names.

Quite a volume might be written upon ship nomenclature, says "Syren and Shipping." Some names are well chosen arid others are not, and amongst the f oimer we would certainly inclnde Upwey Grange, the designation of the largest meat-carrier — just added to the fleet of H'oulder Brothers. Upwey is a hamlet in Dorset, a^ county famous for beef, mutton, and dairy produce, commodities which will constitute the lading of the new ship. "Grange" is equally significant, as originally the word was applied to farm buildings attached to monasteries, in which were stored vast quantities of agricultural produce— the rent in kind—of the tenant farmers". The application of the name to a ship which is a floating storehouse for such products v therefore yeijr jLßaroßriatfc