MARITIME MATTERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1749, 13 September 1905, Page 50

MARITIME MATTERS.

(By "Mainsail.”) /

The recent collapse of the whole of the left wall of the great new mercantile repairing dock at Naples, 200 metres long and 10 feet high, was due, it is believed,, to the shifting of the sea bottom. The work was begun in 18&9, and the damage is estimated at nearly £250,000. The famous Vulcan Co., of Stettin, according to a contemporary is contemplating a move nearer Hamburg. This is no doubt thought desirable in the interests of the rapidly developing mercantile marine of Germany. A heavy - programme will soon be introduced to make good the large amount of tonnage disposed of*to the Russians, not a little of which was of a high class. It is .suggested that the contemplated move is because of the naval programme, but no doubt both sections of building—fighting and peaceful— have played a part m the proposed alteration of the Stettin company's shipbuilding centre. It is told of “Mark Twain” that during a conversation with a young lady of his acquaintance he had occasion to mention the word drydock. “What is a drydock. Mr Clemens?” she asked. “A thirsty physician,” replied the humorist. The salvage claim of the HamburgAmerican steamer Ambria against the owners of the steamer Assouan, for salvage rendered in March last while the latter had become disabled in the Red Sea, voyaging from Jeddah to Suez, with 1000 Mecca pilgrims, has resulted in a total award of =£l6oo. The value of the Ambria to come to the succour of/a vessel and her freight at risk ,£6BOI. or ,£149,301 ip. all. The defendants admitted the salvage services, but alleged that the towage was of an easy characer. The value on the Assouan was £11,300, and specie and mail matter on board was valtied at .£7376. or £18,676 in all. In giving judgment the fact of the Assouan having on board 1000 pilgrims was especially insisted upon, it being stated that it was a most serious matter for a vessel like the Ambria to come to the succor of a vessel laden with people on a Meccan pilgrimage. There was not any serious risk to the vessel herself, but she lost twentyfour hours on her journey. A saje of obsolete British war vessels took place recently at Portsmouth, England, Dockyard, and the 'following prices were realised, the tonnage given being the tonnage displacement: Firstclass cruisers Hector. 6,710 tons, 912 tons of armour, withdrawn at £7,950, but subsequently resold; Orlando, 5,600 tons, 460 tons armour, £10,000; second-class cruiser Iris, 3730 tons, £8000; third-class cruiser Magicienne, 2950 tons, steel built and copper - sheathed, £6000; third-class cruisers Fearless, £4250; Blanche, £4000; Blonde, £4250; Barossa, £4250; twinscrew steel sloop Beagle, 1170 tons, withdrawn at £4900; first-class torpedo gunboats Jaseur, 810 tons. £2075; Boomerang, £1900; Karrakatta. £1875; Grasshopper, £1425; tank vessel Pelter, 370 tons, £725; third-class gunboat Pincher, 265 tons, £620; wooden paddle yacht Einchantress, 1000 tons, copper fastened and sheathed, £2675; wooden hulks, copper sheathed. Myrtle, 2761 tons, £2300; Hamadryad. 1540 tons, £1Q00; wooden sailing brigj Nautilus, 501 tons, £860; sailing brig Liberty, 447 tons, £630. The Orlando, Boomerang, and Karakatta were stationed for some years with the Australasian Squadron.

An eminent English jurist has given it as his opinion that no pilot should go on board a foreign vessel unless he understands something of the language of her crew. What fun it would be to enforce an order at New York (says “Shipping'*) where the shipping is of every nationality but American! A London contemporary ~n referring to the matter states that if the idea is materialised there will be a.n opening for some enterprising publisher to bring out a conversation book for the use of British pilots, something in the following style: “Have •V ou , „?, een the top boots of" my great aunt? "No, but I see the lights of an approaching steamer.” “Bring me a tinopener and a corkscrew!” “I have not them, but here is a lifebuoy which you will shortly need.”