50,000-TON LINER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 28 October 1912, Page 8

50,000-TON LINER.

VESSEL THAT WILL BE " C7NSINKABLE." -MT/tvh *nrKmnc«l officially that the. ;>G,OOO-ton vessel which is being built by Messrs. Harland and Wolff at Belfast for the White Star Lino will bo named Britannic. In a description of tho Britannic tho \Vhito Star Lino states:— "In general features the new vessel will bo similar to the Olympic, but sho will bo of somewhat larger tonnage. Thero will also be various improvements introduced into the new vessel, resulting from tho experience gained in tho Olympic, which will be altered at an early date. "In two important respects both vessels aro to bear evidence of tho recent chango in expert and public opinion as regards protection against the effects of collision with icebergs or other obstacles, by tho introduction of a complete inner skin extending to a considerable! height above tho load-line throughout the most vulnerable portions of tho vessels, and also by tho increased height and number of watertight bulkheads, so as to render both shin.s as nearly unsinkablo as possible; in* fact, making them practically safe against all conceivable contingencies. "Hitherto, ib was considered sufficient if a vessel could float with any two compartments pierced; but tho Olympic and Britannic, besides having this extra protection against .serious damage, will bo ahlo to lloat with any six compartments flooded. "Tho White Star Line and tho builders belicyo they have solved tho problem of carrying tho precious lnnr.rm freight of thc'o leviathans in absolute safety. '

j A _ woman walked into an hotel in Baltimore, recently, carrying a baby '•vliich was stru^o-ling; violently, and had overv appearance of cr-injr, but no foimd came from it. The woman ivas advertisinp; a baby silencer which she hp.d invented. Tt* consisted of a kind of pranzo prag, which fits over the mouth fof tho baby, and allows it to breathe I froelv, but prevents any crying bein<2; ) hoard. Tho invention has been designed (says a cable message to tho Australian papers) with the object of enabling mothers to take their babies to churches, matinee, or other entertainments.