POSSIBLE EVENTUALITIES.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 79, 21 July 1877, Page 3

POSSIBLE EVENTUALITIES.

It is said that, with a view to possible eventualities m "the East, the Government .have resolved toffit out for sea with the .utmost, jexpedition the whole of the class )>f imall turretsships of war of which tlhe"Hecate & Glatton are types. These vessels, though armour-plated, are of cbmpaAffvely light draught, and carry four pwrerful gun's each. The Hecate will . probably/- be ready first. The Dockyard authorities at Portsmouth have' received i instructions' >tb f use' all possible expedition m refitting arid completing the Minofaur, Hercules, Triumph, Active, and Inconstant for sea. Unfortunately, the reconstruction of ' the • Admiralty yatch Enchantress/ upon " which , upwards" r of 200 ship-' wrights are engaged, blocks the way. Unless, therefore, some of the less pressing work is ' made to give place, it will be impossible to get the above-men-tioned ships ready for sea for some time to 'come. * Even the Active, 1 which returned from its commission on the West Coast of Africa m splendid trim, will require more than a month to complete her refit, and as -the* Urgent will take out some relief for; the Rover, it is expected that her original destination will be changed for the Mediterranean. The Minotaur has been docked for the purpose of haying her hull cleaned and refcoated with Sim's composition, and itlsiriteh'ded, to provide~her with the new 1 ' forpedo But should any necessity arise she could be sent to sea at once. The machinery of the Triumph is m even worse condition, and she has besides been dismantled and dismasted. .The 'inconstant is also m a backward state, but)the,|Thunderer, double turretship, and the ' Boadicea, unarmoured corvette, both 'of which have been provided with torpedo carriages, are ready for the pendant, and could, be dispatched to sea at once. , A large number of additional workmen, have been set' to work on board the Temeraire, the Admiralty having given orders that she is to be completed as soon as possible. She has just taken on .board four T 25-ton guns.