TRIAL OF A NEW TORPEDO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 15

TRIAL OF A NEW TORPEDO.

(FaOM Ova Own Coiirespondknt.) • Auckland, March 4. A trial of a new torpedo took place in the harbour in the presence of a largo number of interested spectators. The torpedo is the invention of Mr J. F. Perkins Ponsonby, and is propelled and steered by electricity. A storage battery is in the interior of the torpedo, and works a powerful electro-motor, which, with steering and other gesr, is also enclosed. The trial took place alongside the ferry, and as the model used had no storage cells, electricity was supplied from a dynamo on the p.s. Victoria by the Ferry Company, the wires being paid out as the torpedo went along. Several tests were made, the course being altered each time. Tile inventor Btatet) that it will travel from 6ft ta Bfb below the surface, never becoming visible bub rising aud exploding at any given time. The steering gear can be set to any given course, and the weight of the instrument will only bo about one-half of that of any other effective torpedo, thus enabling a double number to be carried. It is also claimed that the torpedo has a wider range than others. Among those present were some gentlemen from H.M.S. Mildura, who, it is understood, were favourably impressed with the principle of the invention. If ib realises tan claims of the inventor in actual practice the Perkins torpedo would have thre.e advantages over other torpedoes — namely, a wider range, reduced weight (enabling double the usual number to be carried), and no visible indication of the course.