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Star (Christchurch), Issue 478, 27 November 1869, Page 2

Calms have always been a source of great perplexity to those who go down to the sea in ships, and they have also beeu productive of much inconvenience and loss to shippers, especially in cases where it was an advantage to have a certain description of cargo delivered at a certain port within a certain time. By means of an ingenious contrivance, there are hopes that henceforth shipbuilders will be able to guard against this source of hindrance in regard to sailing vessels. The Galatea (an iron sailing vessel of 600 tons, recently launched by Messrs Brown and Simpson, and at present undergoing equipment in Victoria Dock, Dundee), is to be supplied, amongst the rest of her stores, with a fonr-bladed screw, four feet in diameter. When overtaken by a calm, this fan is fixed to a rudder, and is propeljed bj- a skilful adaptation of pulleys leading over the stern of the vessel to a steam winch which is used in the loading and discharging. Perhaps the most ingenious part of the mechanism in connection with iliiii^iniitiivaruie, is_the manner which this miniature propeller is 7 necureiy nxea m-us place on the rudder, and the ease with which 'jit can be shipped or unshipped. It will ouly jk'.put in operation in the event of a calm, ■."aud 'it is calculated that the vessel will then jbe propelled at the speed of between two and .■three knots au hour. This is no small desideratum, when it is borne in mind that oftentimes in certain par:s the ocean is in this tranquil state for a lengthened period. Shippers will no doubt fully appreciate the bouefits to be derived from this additional pawer ; and sailors, to whom there is nothing ir.orc detestable than a culm, in vessels fitted up with such au appliance, will leave the quay with more spirit, inasmuch as they will have no terror of their vessel lying for an indefinite period while passing the equatorial •regions uuder abroilingsun, "idle asa painted ship upon a painted ocean." The innovation is worthy of every encouragement, and it is to be hoped it will be attended witli the desired success. — Dundee Advertiser.