BATTLESHIP AUSTRALIA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13350, 7 April 1914, Page 5

BATTLESHIP AUSTRALIA.

ROILERS AND GUNS DAMAGED. SYDNEY, March 20. The condition of tbe. battleship Australia (states tho Sun) is, said rto be gi\ ing anxiety lo the naval authorities. It is stated in official quarters \hat £200,000 must be spent on tho battleship in' repairs to boilers and "guns. Some experts go so far as to say that the use of Australian coal in the fireboxes during the Australia's stay in Australian waters has led to the boilers showing five years' wear instead of only ninb months., Thiß has been due to the thick clinker deposited from Australian coal and the necessity for periodical chipping off. Practically all the boilers have now to be re-bricked. .This is an expensive process. It is understood that special firebricks are being imported under order from Babcock and Wilcox. It is unlikely that the authorities will persevere with the' use of Australian coal — in > fact, one statement is to the effect that its use has = been prohibited by the Naval Board. Ib future all coal for tho Australian navy will probably be brought from Westport, New Zealand. Only one tender for the repairs was received by the Naval BoaFd! The repairs will not be carried out during the present stay of the Australia in Mort's Dock. This stay will extend over about three weeks, and the charges nre said to be £200 a day. Current rumors, that despite official denials the Ministry is considering the question of lending the Australia* to" the Admiralty for North Sea seryice in return for two light cruisers, are strengthened by the faCt/that the Australia has done only three battle practices.. Thirteen is the ÜBUal number: "Moreover, the supply of big gun ammunition with the Admiralty lias suddenly ceased. One reason said to be weighing with the Ministry is the fact that only one portin Australia can accommodate the Australia for repairer. ' '- i; The Prime Minister (Mr Cook) was communicated with thia morning, and said that .as* far as the' Australia's boilers were concerned it- was the first he had heard of their "being in 'a bad way. Willi regard to the rumored exchange of ships, he- gave that an absolute denial; '