SUPPLY OF FRESH WATER ON LONG VOYAGES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 482, 31 May 1851, Page 59

SUPPLY OF FRESH WATER ON LONG VOYAGES.

(From the Nautical Standard.

We have many times been surprised at the very slowness with which improvements are adopted in our Royal and mercantile navies. As a nation, we are averse to innovation, and it requires a long time to introduce in our system even things that are decidedly and tangibly superior and better than those we have been accustomed to. It is notorious that the most useful inventions, and even the greatest discoveries, have found detractors or enemies among those they were intended to benefit. There are yet men with prejudices so strong, that they cannot be convinced by the evidence of their own senses. They are so wedded to their old ideas and ways that they cannot see with their own eyes open that they are wrong, or that some newer means are better than those they have used all their lifetime. Some others, whose interest draws them another way, have, of course, reasons of their own for not adopting, or even for speaking against and running down all improvements. The old cant of new-fanjjled systems, delusive hopes, dangerous experiment, poisonous muff, were the expressions of all those interested in the several trades connected with lighting when gas was first spoken of. The inventor of the apparatus that first manufactured the gas that lighted the first experimental lamp, and the discoverer of the application of gas for lighting purposes, after having spent their last shilling to bring out their discovery, were reduced to pine away the last years of their existence in the mo6t abject penury; like many other benefactors of their race, they worked hard to pave the way to those splendid establishments we see springing up every day. They 6owed the seed, and starved whilst it was growing up; but others af'er them reaped a rich harvest. In spite of the efforts of thousands interested in the dark status quo, gas at last triumphed, and is now become as necessary to tho inhabitants of our cities as the very air they breathe; with it too it has brought immense improvements in our manner of building; and although met with the greatest abuse and outcries at first, it has new become an indispensable article.

Another discovery, as important to the navies of England, has been made, and the outcry raised is that it cannot answer; without any trial, without the possible chance of appreciation of it merit, there were, and there are now, found men so bigoted to their old notions that they have proclaimed, and continue to proclaim, the utter impossibility of the success of the discovery. When those men are told that vessels have been for months, nay years, at sea without being provided with a ton of water; that their crews, composed of several hundred men, have found a constant abundant supply with the simplest apparatus, and only by distilling the sea-water oa which their ship floated— those men, with the obstinacy belonging to ignorance, persevere n their old and foolish way, and will not, or annot,, believe what everybody else is coni nee d of.

There are many ships in the French Republican and mercantile navies provided with what our neighbours call "Appareil- Cuisine Distillatoire," which, whilst it cooks the crew's meals, distils the water neccessary for all purposes. This apparatus is of the simplest construction, easy of access to all on board, and not liable to get out of order. The price in France is extremely moderate, and probably at the time we write nearly half of the merchant navy, going on long voyages, are provided with this economical and most useful galley. Many large men-of-war, with numerous crews, have received the improved machine, and find it answer admirably. We have before us reports of numerous captains who speak in the highest terms of its efficiency, and advise its introduction in every vessel, even for short voyages, as more economical and safer than the old plan of water-casks or tanks. They ieport that the water is better than that provided at the common watering places, free from all the earthy, mineral, or vegetable matters which are found in larger or lesser proportion in every drop of water shipped from springs, rivers, or reservoirs — by far more useful for drinking, cooking, or washing purposes than the water generally procured in casks.

We have told what the distilling apparatus of Messrs. Peyre and Rogers does for the French navy, but we have to speak now of what Mr. Grant's distilling and cooking galley does for the British navy.

In June last, the Arrogant, 46, Captain Fitzroy, with a complement of 450 men ; the Plumper, 12, Commander M. S. Nolloth, with a complement of 100 men; and the Reynard. Commander P. Cracroft, with a complement of 113 men, sailed from Plymouth, provided each with one of Mr. Grant's distilling and cooking galleys. The reports of the captains of these ships prove that the distillation of salt water during the time only that the fire was lighted for cooking the crews' meals, produced one gallon of pure water fit for drinking and culiniary purposes for every man on board. This water was found greatly preferred to the tank water embarked ashore. The distilled water becomes very shortly fit for use, as it passes from the condenser to tanks, where it cools to the same temperature as that of the sea, the motion of the vessel aerating it in a few hours, and restoring to it the oxygen which it had lost by distillation, and consequently rendering it as brisk as spring- water, without even employing any chemical meant?. Experiments have proved that if the water is required for immediate use, it may be aerated by meann of a simple and self acting electric apparatus, which will supply the required oxygen in a few minutes.

Now, with these facts before us, we demand the solution of this simple question— Why do

vessels going on long voyages persevere in embarking large quantities of water, in many cases as much as one ton per man on board? Why do emigrant ships take out a supply which they can command at all times and at all hours? Why do they carry from 100 to 200 tons of water? Since it is calculated that an adult during a South Australian voyage, consumes a ton, why do they not provide themselves with distilling and cooknig galleys, which would Rive them a fresh and wholesome daily supply? Having seen what have been done abroad, and what is done or doing at home every day, we j are at a loss to find a reason why a shipowner should prefer embarking water to goods. It will be seen what an economy the adaptation of such n galley on board anemiftrant ship will present, even on the first voyage. Let us take a vessel of 500 or 600 tons, with a crew of 30 men and 200 passengers. For tho voyage to Australia, these people will consume 250 tons of water. If it be intended to ko straight, without watering at any intermediate port, that water must be on board at the departure ; if she waters halfway, than some 120 tons are embarked. Taking the last hypothesis she will have to procure casks, which will cost at the minimum price £2 per ton, or £240. Then she will loose the freight of 120 tons of goods at £2 10s., or £3,000, making altogether £500, besides the delays incident on going out of her way to water. Now, the cost of an apparatus, tank and all complete, does not exceed £150 (we speak of the French galley, not being acquainted with Mr. Grant's scale of prices) ; out of that sum we mußt deduct about £30, the price of the common cooking apparatus for snch a vessel; than the cost will be £120. Then we have a profit on the very fir6t voyage of £380. If the observation is made that the casks may be sold in Australia at the cost price, still there must remain on board some 20 tons or more for the provision of the crew on the return voyage ; giving the 'ship-owners the benefit of that observation, and assuming he sells 100 tons of watercasks at £2, which we take out of the £380, there will remain after all £180 balance in favour of the galley — taking no account whatever of the loss incurred on the 20 tons, or about £100 on the return voyage.

The results proving the efficiency of these galleys have been numerous and satisfactory; why then persevere in the old water-casks course? It is said that the Emigration Board would not permit a vessel to leave port without a sufficiency of water. We may predict, with certainty, that such foolish notions will soon be exploded, and that these machines will be required by the same board to be placed on board every passenger ship.

Looking now at the Royal Navy, the large quantities of water embarked on board a ship take a great portion of the stowage away ; that part of the ship may be usefully employed in carrying stores for a long voyage, and instead of being stored, as now, for six months, by the introduction of the new galley she may be provisioned for 12 months without difficulty,

An Ingenious Worker in Glass. —In Saumur, in a modest shop upon the quay, I witnessed an exhibition showing a degree of industry, ingenuity, and perfectly novel artistic skill, which surprised and delighted me. In a glass case by the door stood what I took at first sight to be a huge grotesque doll, made up in ludicrous imitation of the lackadaiscial looking shepherds who •ometimes flourish in the pictures of Watteau and his pastoral loving contemporaries. Looking more closely, I discovered that my shepherd was a glass one — that the half-furry, half-velvety materials in which he was dressed were composed of innumerable filaments of spun glass of all imaginable colours. I was examining the figure, when the shopkeeper politely invited me to enter. He was engaged, by the help jof a jet of gas, a small lump of glass, and the blowpipe, in manufacturing an infinity of tiny dogs, cats, and birds of paradise, with lustrous tails — the like of which abound in our own toy-shops, but which were here endowed with an artistic appearance of life, and finished off with a perfection of detail, which appeared to me quite unrivalled. Still, not being over and above interested in the production of these pretty nicnackeries, I was turning to go, when I observed a large glass case at the bottom of the shop, containing what I took to be very fine stuffed specimens of a lion, a striped tiger, and a leopard. "Ah 1" said the artist, " these are my triumphs. I make my living out of trumpery dogs and eats, and children's sets of plates; but these are the works to which I have devoted all the time, and in which I have settled all the pride of my life." I was astounded. What I had taken for the natural hides and fur of the animals was entirely glass — every tawny hair in the lion's mane being a distinct thread of the brittle material, and every coloured fibre in the tiger's striped hide a separately spun specule ,of correspondingly hued glass, of most patient and delicate handiwork. But the art of the exhibition was shown in the (kill and fidelity with which nature had been imitated, in the whole aspect and bearing of the animals, in the fine swell of their muscles — the attitudes and cord-like tenseness given to the leg« — and above all, in the fierce and life-like aspect imparted to the creatures' heads, that of the lion in particular flaming upwards from the tangled masses of shaggy mane. The artist looked upon his works with pride. "lam the only man in Europe," he said, " who can make the like." He added that he had been sent for by the late ex-King of the French, who had purchased several smaller animals, made in the style of those I saw. I expressed a hope that I should encounter the lion, next summer, in the London Exposition. " No/* to* man replied. "He had shown his collection to great English milords when he wat in Paris, but they were stiff and cold, and the reception they had given him discouraged him from thinking of sending any specimens of his skill to London." It is to be hoped, however, that M. Lauibourg— such is the artist's name — will change his mind in thit respect. The lion cost him five years' labour. He estimated its value at 30,000 francs, while li« rated the tiger and the leopard *» worth 15,000 francs each. — Morning Chronicle.