NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15124, 15 October 1912, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE WORLD'S BIGGEST WARSHIP. In naval circles it is understood that the British Admiralty will about Christmas begin the construction of a battleship of greater tonnage, higher speed, and altogether more powerful than any war vessel yet built. Tho great ship will be 700 ft long, and will have a displacement of 30,000 tons. For propelling high-power geared turbines are to be used, and these will give a speed of about 29 knots—a phenomenal speed for a battleship. No official details are, of course, allowed to be made known, everything connected with the building design being kept an absolute secret except from those actually engaged in the work, but there is reason to believe that the new vessel will have so manymodifications and improvements that she will virtually mark the commencement of a class superior even to the super-Dread-noughts now completing. Her guns will probably be of 14in calibre, an advanceupon the 13.5 in weapons of the superDreadnought type. Ten of these guns will comprise the main armament, the guns being mounted in pairs in barbettes in. such a way that an all-round fire can be maintained. As regards the defensive armament of the Iron Duke's successor, it is understood that while the side plating will be heavier, the armour will be extended to give more adequate protection against attacks from above. The recent developments of aircraft and the demonstrations lately given, by naval airmen have shown that danger from dropped bomb 3 must be anticipated, and that not

only the -gun.-positions, but , the broad funnel, openings, leading, down to the furnaces and engine-rooms need to be screened. This will be a .feature of the new design, and probably also steps will .be taken to. give better protection against aerial attack" in. the case of vessels completing and. already in commission. The new ship will be completed within two years.

AUSTRALIAN COAL TRADE. The coal trade of Newcastle (New South Wales) is now worth very little less than two millions sterling a year. There has been an increase for the year of 25 per cent., which is almost wholly to be put down to the comparative absence of labour troubles this year, for there has been no very noticeable advance in development, and no very special effort to secure foreign markets. Newcastle and the Hunter River Valley in general possess the finest coalfields in Australasia, : and amongst the finest in the world. The potential wealth of the mines is almost inI calculable^certainly he would be a bold man who would place any limit upon it. The Sydney Morning Herald, in summarising the figures remarks on the unlimited foreign' market for Australian coal, and adds : "While the control of the industry by shippers and proprietors may not bo all that we should like to ' see there is no doubt that the main factor hindering progress has been industrial unrest. The absolute uncertainty of labour conditions has stopped progress in all directions. Although the present increased bulk of trade is something to be thankful for, it is hardly too much to say that it would have been twice as great but for the labour troubles of the past few years. At one time, indeed, it looked as though we were in a fair way to lose our foreign coal trade altogether, to say nothing of the fact that we directly induced the other States to open up much inferior mines of their own. It is impossible to undo the harm thus done, though we may atone for it by expansion in fresh directions. Japan, for instance, has largely taken our place in the East, and she had every right to the trade her freedom from labour difficulties has secured for her. It is no use crying over spilt milk, but when we see how the industry can grow if it is given a reasonable chance, surely everyone should think more than twice before deliberately hampering its progress."

ENGINEERING AND DUSTY ROADS. In his address to the engineering section of the British Association, Professor Archibald Barr, D.Sc, discussed the question of the raising of dust by motor cars. He maintained that it is no part of the function of a road surface to fritter itself down .into dust under traffic of any kind. The ideal road, he said, .would be one that would not, wear atj all, and the nearer wo approach this ideal of ; a permanent road surface, the less will be the inconvenience caused, not only to those responsible for the upkeep of the road, but to the general public. And, conversely, the more attention we give to the devising of a dustless road the more rapid will be our advance towards the provision of one best suited for all the purposes which a road is intended to serve. We had dusty roads before the motor car came into being, but.the demand that is being forced upon ihe engineer to eliminate this nuisance is leading to an improvement of our roads for all users. The inventors of the automobile will yet merit the thanks even of those who, bemoaning the blatant intrusion of science into our lives, may discard the railway train, and the motor car, and take-.. vt the stage-coach of their grandfathers with a view ; to the recovery of some of the lost repose. - ■.