TORPEDO EXPERIMENTS AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7328, 11 August 1885, Page 4

TORPEDO EXPERIMENTS AT AUCKLAND.

A large number of persons congregated on the Auckland wharves on the Tst. July to observe the firing of an experimental torpedo and a submarine mine by the Auckland Torpedo Corps, which is composed entirely of A.C. men who have been undergoing a course of instruction in this method of warfare for some time. The experiments (says the Auckland Star) were carried out most successfully by Mr W. L. Lodder, under the supervision of Lieutenant Archer. Amongst the guests were Colonel Lyon, Major Sheppard, Captain Morrison, Messrs Seymour George, It. E. Issacs and W. Lodder (marine engineer). These gentlemen were on the deck of the torpedo-boat, which, of course, would not have been allowed in actual warfare, where everyone goes under cover. The first experiment was made with a spartorpedo. ' This was much smaller than those used in warfare, having a" charge of only 201b of gelatine instead of 501b It was attached to a spar.extending over the bow of-the torpedo-boat, as the latter came up harbour at a wonderful rate of speed. It was snddenly dipped in the water for a distance of about 10ft, and about 30ft away from the bow of the boat. A whistle was then blown, and the explosion took place, throwing the water about 30ft high, and over a considerable area, the torpedo-boat by reversing her engines, having got clear of the shock. The explosive power of this torpedo was equal to that of liOlbs powder. It was fired by Mr W. Lodder. The second experiment was made with an extempore submarine mine. This consisted of an iron case containing 301b gelatine. If. was sunk a short distance from the wharves, and was fixed with sinkers about 12ft below the surface. Immediately above the mine was a large cask afloat. The mine was fired by electricity, and caused an explosion greater than that made by the torpedo. When the huge volume of water which was thrown upwards cleared not away a particle of the cask was visible, the only sufferer being a large John Dore fish. The experiments were of a highly successful character, and showed that the port is in a satisfactory state of defence in the marine department. The submarine mine, it is necessary to'explain, was a small affair about one-tenth the size of what would be employed in actual warfare. The explosions are caused by a priming of dry gun-cotton, the gun-cotton detonated by a detonator containing fulminate of mercury, and they can be caused either by contact or at will. It is expected that further experiments in the same way will be made shorth

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