NATAL ITEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1349, 16 January 1879, Page 3

NATAL ITEMS.

(Mail, Oct. 26.) From the periodical return of the strenßtb of the Royal .Navy just issued we find that within the past six montha nine vessels, of various tonnage ond power, have been launched, and that at tho present time there are 17 others under construction or about to be built at the various Government dockyards und by private firms. Tho vessels now being completed for service are five out of the six ecrew corvettes built of steel and iron and cased with wood ; they are each of 2383 tons, and have engines of 2300-horee power ; they nre to be armed with 14 guns euch, and have been built and launched by Messrs. Elder and Co., of Gla-gow. The Bteel hulls of there vessels are encased m teak and covered externally wilh copper sheathing. They have been named Caryefort, Champion, Cleopatra, Comu» nnd Curacoa. Their machinery and boilors aro protoeted by a strong armoured deck. Two screw sloops, of 1124 tons, with engines of 900-lioree power, constructed at Devon port, and named theDragon and Pegu bus. A double screw Bteel despatch vessel, of 3735 tons, with engines 7000-horse power, armed with 10 guns, launched at Pembroke, and named the Mercury; nnd a double screw iron armourplated ship, of 7323 tons nnd 6000-horae power engines, built by Messrs. J. Elder and Co-, of Glasgow, and named the Nelson, now being fitted for sen at Chatham. The new vessels ordered within the same period to be constructed, and for which tho necessary preparations have been made, include a screw corvette, steel and iron, cased with wood, of 2383 tons, to be supplied with engines of 2300-horso power, and to bo buill at Chatham Dockyard ; ehe is to curry 14 guns, and bo named the Conslance. A double er.rew ar.nour-plated turret-ship to bo nami'd the Majestic, and to be constructed at Pembroke Dockyard ; a screw iron armor-plated torpedo ram, to be propelled by engines of 5500-horso power, to be built at Chatham, and to be culled the Polyphemus ; four oompoeite screw sloops, eaoh of 1124 'tons, and engines of 900-horse power, — tho Doterel, Miranda, and Pheenix, to be built at Devonport, and the Kingfisher at Sheerwess. These ships are to be. half built thiß year, and launched about next June. Two sailing brigs, building at Pembroke, to be called the Nautilus and the Pilot. The other vessels under construct ion inc'ude two doubleecrew iron armor-plated turret-aliijM, of 8492 tons, designed to carry four guns each,' und to bo supplied with engines of 6000-horae power. 1 hey are to be named the A gamemnon and Ajnx, and are under construction at Chatham and Pembroke respectively. A Bcrew corvette of 2383 tons and 2300-horse power engines, to be armed with 14 guns, being built of steel and iron, cased with wood (sister ►hip to Carysfort, Champion and C'emus, re cently launched), building at Glasgow by Measra. J. Elder and Co. A double ecrew ir n armour-plated corvette, of 4720 tons, and lo be supplied with 3900-horse power engines, designed to carry four guns, building at Poplar, and to be christened Orion. Four double-screw iron gunbonts, of 264 tons and 168-horse power engines, each to carry one gun, to be Jbuilt at Pembroke, and named Gadfly, Griper, Pincher, and Tickler ; but the conatruction of these bouts has for a considerable time been suspended. The old Victory, Nelson's flagship, had her trucks and yardnrms decorated on Monday with garlands m celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar. As usual, the day was fixed for the annual meeting of the Royal Seamen and Marines Orphan School and Female Orphan Home. The chair was taken at noon by Admiral Fanshawe, who was supported by Rear-Admiral Foley, Admiral Gambier, and Colonpl Adair. A highly satisfactory report was submitted of the year's proceedings. The receipts had amounted to £?729, while the expenditure was only £2012, which sum, however, did not include the investments. The contributions had fallen off somewhat, but the annual subscriptions had considerably increased. It was Btated that General Carr Tate had been compelled to resign the Treaaurership m consequence of ill health, and Mr. George Long Bank was elected m his place. All the projects for raising the ironclad Yanguwd, which Bank Borne three or four years ago through a collision with the Iron Duke, baring failed, it, is stated that the Admiralty have now decided to blow the vessel up. An attempt will be made to save the iron masts, &c, and with this view the Lords of the Admiralty have called upon Staff-Captain Batt, master attendant and Queen's harbor- master at Chatham Dockyard, to report how this can beat be done.