TELEGRAMS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3191, 5 May 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

Lxttelton : 3rd — 7 p.m., Omeo, tor Wellington. The recent launch of an iron river steamer is a notable event as one step of progress in what we believe will be a revolution in a water craft of the western rivers, Which will greatly reduce the perils and the cost of transportation. Here is an iron boat, 180 feet long, 42 feet wide in the hull, 6£ feet deep, with an iron shell varying from three-eighths to fiveeighths in thickness, according to the need, much stronger both in the shell, and in the frame than a wooden hull, divided into light •water-tight compartments* with forty feet of the deck of iron, which draws, as launched, but fourteen inches. Such a boat is almost proof against sinking. One and even two of her sections may be pierced, and she will still float. Her compartments will greatly reduce tlie risk of the cargo by fire. There is no reason why she may not last forty years. And by the use ef homogenous steel in the place of iron, by an increase of about 50 per cent in the cost of ;the plates, a boat may be made of double the strength in the Bame weight. Iron steamboats and iron barges will carry the trade of these rivers. A new boat will be a thing to outlive the builder, instead of going out in seven or eight years. This city has taken the lead in this revolution, and will hold it. Give us a free river, and the upper town will before long ring with the clatter of hammers riveting the sides of iron boats for this and the Mississippi rivers^ And in such extensions of (he uses of iron, instead of in monopoly prices which dwarf its uses, will be the sure foundation of the iron production." — " Cincinnati Gazette." It is stated ss the result of recent experiments, that pale yellow is to be preferred to all other colors for signal lights, as being the tint most quickly and readily recognised at a distance. Within the last few years Belfast has risen to an eminence for shipbuilding that is only second to the Clyde or Mereey. Our readers will remember that the G-erman exploring expedition which went out in 1869 for the purpose of Arctic discovery has lately returned home, the sailing vessel of the expedition having been wrecked on the east coast of Greenland, her entire crow, however, being saved. The steamer returned in good condition. Enough of the results of the expedition Lave been published to furnish the means of judging, to some extent, of th« advantages secured, which are thought to be of great interest ; not the least being the acquisition of a foothold of property in the north, possession having been taken of a previously unoccupied portion of the coast of Greenland, extending for about 30 German miles, or from lat. 75 deg. to lat. 77 deg. An apology is made for the absence of any considerable amount of actual discovery, on account of the excessive rigor of the winds, this being very much greater than that experienced in the neighboring regions during the previous explorations on the part of English vessels. The portion of Greenland explored by this expedition is characterised by a very deep fiord, the head of which was not reached in a distance of over eighty miles ; and it was thought impossible that it extended all the way across to the water on the opposite side. The most interesting feature of the land, however, was the occurrence of extensive meadows, starred with flowers, with butterflies and bees playing about them, and having large herds grazing near by of reindeer and musk oxen. The lowest temperature experienced was abjout — 58 deg. Fahr., this occurring on the 21st February, 1870. The wind •was found to be of extraordinary severity, Kobinson's anemometer indicating a rate of velocity of 67 miles in the bour, which, it was believed, would render sledging parties entirely impracticable. The auroral light, to the surprise of the beholders, who expected to see it in the west or south-west, was actually in the south-east. Among the geological discoveries were beds of brown coal, and numerous fossil remains. Deep sea soundings were made, and collections taken from a depth of 1500 fathoms. One important conclusion arrived at by the expedition was that small vessels were suited for polar exploration, and that it would be madness to attempt, as is proposed by the French, the use of a thousand ton ship. Steamers, too, were believed to be the only form of vessels suited for research on the eastern coast of Greenland, anything like reaching the coast in a sailing vessel being entirely out of the question. — " Harper's Magazine." The " Wanganui Herald" gives the follow ing suggestion anenfc the question of removing the bar of the Wanganui or any other river : — "The bar of the Danube was at one time similar to that of the Wanganui. The Turks invented a harrow which each vessel leaving the river bad to drag affer her, buoying it outside, and each vessel that entered the river had to drag the harrow in. The harrow was much like an ordinary agricultural one. It operated by the teeth loosening the particles of sand, which the force of the .water carried out, and the result was that the bar had the same depth of water as existed in the river aad out Bide the mouth. During the Crimean ■war, when the Russians pur a stop to all Turkish commerce, the regulation whs set aside, and tho consequence was that the bar filled up, and vessels of large druught were unable to enter. This appears a very simple plan for deepening the bar."