LOG-BOOK GLEANINGS

Evening Star, Issue 23065, 17 September 1938, Page 2

LOG-BOOK GLEANINGS

WINKING LIGHTS WORK OF TRINITY HOUSE PROTECTION IN COASTAL DANCER ZONES [By Finsx Mate.] “ The Corporation of Trinity House ” —these few words sum up the vast organisation that has control of lighthouses on English coasts. Lighthouses, lightships, buoys, pilots—all these are under the jurisdiction of the Brethren. Henry VTli. granted Trinity House its first charter in 1514, yet even prior to this the corporation had its foundation. In early days it had a religious significance, concerning itself with the welfare of seamen. Too, it had benevolent objects, and the dispensation of alms was among its appointed duties. From this small beginning Trinity House has worked itself into a position of premier importance to English ships and crews. Still it maintains its charitable work. Deserving cases are assisted to the extent of about a quarter of a million pounds yearly. Its work has been greatly enlarged in its scope through the years, and its responsibilities increased a thousandfoldTrinity House, its aims and ideals, are a byword in England. _ Reliability is its watchword, allied with service, and mariners on all coasts know that of it both are true. For years the House was directly connected with the Navy; in fact, in the time of Queen Elizabeth it had control of the entire British Fleet. Even when this privilege was withdrawn, the Corporation was consulted frequently . on matters pertinent to armament, coh-( struction, and the maiming of ships of war.. Until 1874 it. was responsible for examining masters for the Kavy in the art of navigation. War has not found the Corporation lacking, either in the worth of its men or the abundance of its financial assistance, to say nothing of expert maritime advice. . In the Great War, besides its volunteers serving with the forces, there was great activity by the House in the alteration of navigation signs in dangerous zones, Lives and ships suffered. The main work of the Corporation, however, is with lighthouses. Ninetysix are under its control, all but 24 being fully manned. Others are finwatched or semi-watched. Most have four keepers on duty at various times. Three operate the light, while ‘the fourth is absent on leave. Monthly periods bring relief, but at times through stress of weather this supply is a hazardous undertaking. Keepers are on duty at lighthouses for two months, then report back to the ' depot. They are usually between 19 and 28 years of age, and supply their own provisions. Lest these should prove insufficient before Tie relief ship can reach them, reserve stocks are kept in the lighthouse. Then there are the lightships, operating where establishment of a lighthouse has been impracticable. There are 100 such controlled by the House, besides over 600 navigational buoys marking dangerous ground charted by the Admiralty Surveying Service. Further, there are the pilots maintained by the organisation, which is the pilotage authority for the United Kingdom. Vessels of all descriptions are used in the work of the Corporation. Cutters, motor yachts, . pilot boats—all types and sizes of craft are in service. Some visit lighthouses, conveying stores aud the supervisers of the lights. Some meet waiting ships outside harbours and bear the pilots who convey the steamers and cargoes safely to their berths. _ To-day the Corporation of Trinity House comprises a number of Elder and Younger Brethren, including 10 Elder Brethren who carry out the real work of the organisation. The Duke of Connaught is the Master, while the King and many other high personages of the United Kingdom are among the Elders. Mariners, either in the Navy or the merchant ships,'are among the Younger Brethren. All swear allegiance to the King. For ceremonial occasions there is a full-dress uniform for Elder Brethren, while the Younger Brethren wear morning dress. The uniform is similar to that of the Navy, with cocked hat, epaulettes, Naval coat, and sword.. But these are merely figureheads for the real work of the Corporation. Lighthouses, pilots, and a thousand and one other duties command its attention, and the reputation it has established for itself in the United Kingdom is sufficient testimony to the manner in which all of its onerous tasks are performed. By the grace of Trinity House, shipping on the English coasts is greatly protected from danger.

■ 94-M.P.H. STEAMERS? ; In .an age '.during 'which. p gehrjesa' motor' car hks Jieen,' evolved precipitated by boinbing, clouds /.with electrified sithd,' theiei is reason to respect a report from' Budapest, that young Hungarian inventors have .demonstrated a new device for propelling ships at a much gfeaiei 1 speed with the same horse-power ' rating. _ Before _ a group of experts a model with a device described as a spiral .cylinder substituted for the propeller attained a speed of 135, miles an hour. The inventors calculated that if, the spiral cylinder could be used in the Queen Mary, which normally cruises at about 28 knots, a sea speed of 94 miles an hour wouldbe reached. .They have asked permission to place the model at the disposal of the German Government. LOT OF A STEWARD. From commodore chief steward of the Blue Funnel Line;-to the less distinguished but more restful hobby of stamp collecting—that is the intention of Mr Benjamin Dawson, who will retire at the completion; of the present voyage of the Anchiaes. He has-been chief on the vessel for 11 years. 'Oncethe youngest in the line, at 65 he is now the oldest. Forty-six of his 50 years at sea have been served with the Blue Funnel Line.- A member of the complement of the war transport Antilochus, sunk by a raiding submarine in the Mediterranean, he his had many adventures. - In the Laertes he carried hundreds of-.Moslem pilgrims to and from Jedda, in. the Sea; he witnessed the terrific destruction of the Messina earthquake of 1908 and of the' Japanese in 1923, while’ Far Eastern typhoons are ho strangers, to him. On almost every run of tne line and in most of its Snips he has been a familiar figure. But he claims ; that a steward’s lot is on the tipi ” are smaller and fewer than ever in the past. • • • . • ■ WORLD’S LONGEST VESSEL. On September 27 the 1,029 ft hull, comprising 25 miles "of steel plates, that will bear the name of Qiueen Elizabeth. will slide down the Clydb runways after the launching ceremony by Her Majesty the Queen. Before this date many, precautions and preparations will have been completed. Her hull will be stiffened; her decks must not sag or her keel buckle when she hits water—the strain will be terrific, as there will be some of her gre&t length suspended between cradle and stern. Steel pillars will aid the hull to withstand the varying pressure* and carry the stress up to the , top deck for relief. Already her four ptopeUkr shafts have been placed in position, while her giant screws had ; to be mounted on pontoons prior to shipping. Six hundred tons of rudder-piece will steady the huge rudder itself—this_ will add about 160 tons to her .weight. The Queeh Elizabeth will have two funnels, as compared with the. three of the Queen Mary, while she will, be 5.000 tons greater in displacement, besides being the longest vessel afloat. Sixty lifts will carry 2,410 passengers and luggage to all parts of the ,ship. There will he 10,000 doors and, 2,000 windows. 1