FAST STEAM LAUNCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 119, 26 July 1873, Page 10

FAST STEAM LAUNCHES.

Another illustration of the strange phenomenon —a small pleasure boat steaming twenty miles an hour—^with which Mr Thorneycroft surprised the nautical world some time ago, took place on the Thames, above Hammersmith Bridge some time ago. A smart elegant little boat, built and engined by Messrs Tborneycroft and Co, at Chiswick, for the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, and named the Belvedere, was put on her speed trials on a measured mile extending fiom a fixed point off Chiswick to Barnes Bridge. She is 50ft 9in long, 6ft Bin extreme breadth, and draws at the stern 6tt Bin and at the bow 7in of water. She is propelled by a two bladed screw 31in in diameter, the upper tip pf the blade being at the level of the water when the boat is at rest. Her internal arrangements comprise two snug little saloons, one before the engines and the other abaft, in each of which a half-dozen people or more could sit at ease and enjoy themselves while passing over the water at the rate of an ordinary railway train. These saloons have their glass windows all round fitted so as to slide up and down, and may at any moment be replaced by sliding Venetian blinds —an airy and pleasant arrangement for warm climates. The cushions and seats in the saloons are also ingeniously arranged so as to admit of each of the latter being made available for sleeping apartments. There are also on board a bathroom, cooking arrangements, and all the requisites necessary to enable people to live on board in comfort for several days together. Over the engines amidships there is a deck laid which enables those on board to pass from one saloon to the other without difficulty, and to lounge on deck if so inclined. From the above it will be seen that the high speed which was obtained has not been achieved at the expense of internal accommodation. The first run was made down the stream at 1.15 p.m., with a good ebb tide, about four hours after high water, and the mile was done in 2 minutes 56 seconds, or at the rate of 20.45 miles an hour. Turning immediately after and going up stream the mile was done against the tide in 4 minutes 4 seconds, being a speed of 14.75 miles an hour. Two other runs were made a few minutes before 4 p.m , the mile being done with the tide in 3 minutes, and against it in 3 minutes 52 seconds. The mean speed of the four runs was slightly over 17£ miles an hour, and this was obtained with little or no vibration being felt on board. It was indeed a noteworthy fact that beyond a certain speed, it may be from ten to twelve miles an hour, the vibration became less as the velocity of the boat became greater. The light, which the trial of these boats are likely to throw upon the subject of resistance, is one of especial interest, and has awakened much thought and inquiry. Mr Tborneycroft i 9 now building a boat for the Indian Goverment which is guaranteed to make a mean speed of 20 miles an hour. She is larger than the Belvedere, being 87 feet long, 12 feet beam, and 3 feet 9 inches draught of water at the stern. But perhaps the results to be watched with most interest will be those from the trials of a couple of boats building by Mr Thorneycroft, and smaller than any he has yet put power into. They are only 30 feet long by 5 feet 6 inches beam and 14 inches draught of water, being, in fact, little pleasure boats” and they are expected to make a speed of ten miles an hour. Such a result we should have been inclined to doubt, had the trials of the Miranda and Belvedere never taken place, but after these trials it is dangerous to say what results Mr Thorneycroft cannot achieve with these small craft. “Engineering,” March 21. LAUNCH OF THE LARGEST CLYDEBUILT YESSEL. A magnificent screw steamer, named the City of Chester, built for Messrs Inman, Liverpool, was recently launched from the ship-building yard of Messrs Caird and Co, Greenock. The vessel is the largest merchant steamer that has ever been built on the Clyde, and she is further said to be the largest afloat, with the sole exception of the Great Eastern. The City of Chester is to be engaged in the Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia service, and will take her station during the summer. Her dimensions are as follow:—Her length over all is 458 feet; at water line, 425 feet; breadth, moulded, 44 feet; depth, extreme, 38 feet 8 inches ; moulded, amidships, 36 feet 4 inches ; hold, 34 feet 9 inches ; saloon deck, 7 feet 4 inches ; lower deck, 7 feet 6 inches ; height of bulwarks, 4 feet ; tonnage, gross, 4800 ; under spar deck, 4500 ; builders’ measurement, 4156. Engines, compound, high and low condensing, 800 horse power. Boilers, fifteen in number, with thirty furnaces. Accommodation is provided for 132 first-class passengers, and 1310 third-class. No provision is made for secondclass passengers. Her ship’s company, properly so-called, consist of forty-four seamen, forty-two engineers and firemen, and fortynine office Officers (navigating and engineering) and ship’s servants, bringing the whole number up to 135. Her store of fuel will amount to 1400 tons, and her cargo space sufficient for about 2000 tons of merchandise. The speed desired to bs obtained on the ocean service is about seventeen knots per hour. The vessel is ship rigged. The keel of the City of Chester was laid in December, 1871, and the construction of a vessel of such large dimensions was so unusual in Greenock, that great interest was felt in her progress. About half-past twelve everything was in readiness for the launch ; and the vessel, having been christened by Mrs J. T. Caird, glided gently down the slip, and entered the water in fine style amid the cheers of the spectators. The company on the balcony then adjourned to the ioiners’ loft, and partook of a service of cake and wine. Mr J. T. Caird, senior partner of the firm of builders, presided, and

proposed “ Success to the City of Chester.” He said that the steamer was the largest that had been built on the Clyde. It would be vain, however, to expect that she would remain for any length of time the largest vessel, for, at the farthest, two years would see her quite eclipsed in size. (Applause.) We understand that the Messrs Caird will immediately commence the construction of another screw steamer for Messrs Inman, and that she will be fifty feet longer,, and have 600 tons more burthen than the City of Chester. — Home paper.