Miscellaneous.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1287, 2 December 1857, Page 4

Miscellaneous.

The New Lord Macaulay.—Tbe Gazette announces the elevation of Mr. Macaulay to tbe Peerage, by the title of Baron Macaulay of Rothley, in rhe county of Leicester. Possibly they may thank us for reminding them that Rothley Ten,pie was tbe residence of his maternal uncle, the late Thomas Badington, Esq., high sheriff of Leicestershire, and many years M.P. lor the borough of Leicester, and that tbe future essayist, orator, poet, and historian was born iti thzt village in the early part of the year 1800. Hence, we presume, arises tbe selection of that spot as the local source Irom which he has selected his barony, according to tbe old feudal theory, which makes every baron the lord also of some definite locality, Lord Macaulay, we may ad-!, is rhe eldest son of the late Ztcbtry Macaulay, tbe early friend anil associate ol Wilberforce, and ’lie veteran labourer in (he c?.u e ol the abolition of negro slavery. His grandfather was a Presbyterian clergyman in the Hi = ltlands of Scotland, anti we believe, was a native of the remote and romantic isl-tud if The Jointed Steam-ship.—A sl'.ro nm? ago a v-s-ei ol v iv ■■■ ? ; -le-.*., r. It: Ibe Esst I : Deel.-. Si.- .- ro t ... lid: Hi coin. ?:t‘neios or s 't-rv ■■ ‘ i itk.i’.i.' t:eet,li.tti'.y, roa: . . ;i ? ■ : . I.'r ,‘Htg p-it of *n m.it ..'*:. ti -.. :i ’ess,-.', a- in ti.e Great Eastern. *. . vs.’S'.l, couql le in ttsell, a,..1 e. ■. other sections by n tuoveab'e j jrot m ■ x "nt simplicity and immense strength. Tiro joints were constructed by giving to the after end ot each section a concave form, euabiti.g it lo contain and overlap thec. nvex bow ol the adjoimt,.. sectiat’. Throit.h the overlapping parts, al tinsides of the vessel, were inserted massive iron holts, resting in s'out wroughi-iroti sponsons, firmly s.iti'chi-iLo the ship's sides and tramewotk. These bolts, which constituted the pivots nr centres of the joints:, were attached to powe.lul levers under the decks, by means of which they coni t be drawn inwards, for disconnecting, or ;-usi:e.i ou wards for connecting the sections. The vessel was, in lac', a “jointed ship,’’ capable of bending at tbe joints both upwards and down wards, accommodating herself to the rise and fall of the waves, and fitted with powerful gear for instantaneously detaching one or more of her sections when required. We understand tbe following desiderata are obtained by this system ol naval coustniction : Vessels of exceedingly light draught, and of length far greater than hitherto, carrying the largest cargoes, may be used without danger of breaking their backs, or even straining : the yielding of tbe joints obviating that liability, Tbe great length, light draught, and narrow midship section, permit the attainment of unprecedented speed ; whilst the facility lor detaching part of the vessel in case ol collision, fire, sudden leakage, er grounding with u fallen tide, affords a means of saving life and a portion of bull and cargo, when otherwise all would be Jost. In steam shipping a great economy of time and expense is effected. One section carries the engine and the crew ; all the other sections are appropriated to cargo, On the arrival at its destination of a "jointed ship,” the engine anti screw section is imraedintetly detach e.l, tranafrtred to another jointed vessel cf same gauge of joint, and dispatched nt once without incurring the delay of unloading one cargo and loading another. The detention of marine engines during repairs of the bulls is also avoided by this system. The sections- of jointer! vessels cun load at inland ports, proc,nt i separately, Ly canal or river, t.i the nearest seaport, throe con. ■cl w.th the stearn s-'ctiou, -.hhl take th.- ir catgoes iltrero over sea, avoiding the delay arid exp-use ot iransltipinin t. '1 he Jointed Ship f' enp-t'.y of Rood-lane are going le run -,n iron ( .iliiro as a pioneer vess:. l in th" i■■ i coal rrit.ro. I ■ --r v.0.il l.rdr’o Si'Cti'in:,, v-lron den't-hed from r'>" s’e.nt -section, will a> lighrors, an-l Iron-? i.boi, coals direct !.<> ; -.-.‘ai;.-s', te pr- mires, can ci', riiiri c.rororo r-l rhe tia.-nes ; nvotunt;. exil'-ro? -.1 . c...lwi;ip:ii--.. an,l ins- ,i:..... r-l :.. I .’>x Al-OS-.ri.opitE wotcTit i'.i.-:itT i :rorsA?;ii Poi-.’-lss. — -\l"'..s:,air :,. :l -■i. !o 'lrog'ii r.l I'.-ortrot l.ror, 1■ . v-.■.. , v ■ ii. a'- it Uanrl *-• 1 1'I rr... - ;" . -■ ■ ■.■ ■- ■ - : ' la li'S.ity > ■ ,ff • . , ■.•. .-.a -in.i 11. — —. • . ■ ; (T.C., ”1 Iln-ro) t deuj, i.e., , S.HHI 11,H,r5." Ihrp.spe ■ I , .. Illk WIS tl’V, -111 i fip WJ .» <• - I.l*l ro r* b.. in • ■ h, , t i r -•• t ■on raiy,’li-ii tliv .»j»«»>.r.4 ■ u itti< ,t n h 1 will be curious 10 'v.ituh ine insult u» ilie cuiiNational May azine.