THE SHIP DOUGLAS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3922, 9 October 1873, Page 2

THE SHIP DOUGLAS.

Since this noble vessel has been hauled alongside the Queen's Wharf she has formed an object of interest to a large number of people, who have derived considerable gratification in admiring her magnificent proportions and the many recent improvements in structure and appointments whioh she displays ; and it is unnecessary to add that Captain Wilson has been courtesy itself to those who havo favored his vessel with a visit. It is a peculiarity of colonial communities in seaport towns that a very large proportion of the inhabitants display their nautical taste so far as to lead them to inspect and criticise any new specimen of the shipbuilder's art wMoh may visit their part of the world. As there are many who would like to know something more than has been yet furnished about this fine ship, but who perhaps have not the time to spare to go on board, a few particulars gathered in a walk round the vessel with Captain Wilson may not be unacceptable to our readers generally.

The Douglas is an iron ship of nearly 1500 tons register, and has been off the stocks four years. She is classed Al for 20 years, and w<ts built at Liverpool by Roy den and Co. Her original cost was about £30,000, but owing to the rise in the price of iron she could not be purchased now under £40,000. even if that would buy her. Originally she was fitted with an auxiliary screw to enable her to steam through the equatorial calms from one trade wind to the other ; but after a fair test it was considered that what advantage was gained was not equivalent to the extra expense entailed, and the screw was accordingly done away with. Her steaming power never exceeded three knots. The space oocupied by her machinery was that; portion of the ship whioh in an ordinary sailing vessel is devoted to cabin accommodation. The space once occupied by the machinery is now converted into a provision room, for whioh purpose it is admirably adapted. It is a great improvement upon the plan generally in vogue, though much condemned by the immigration authorities, of storing and serving oat provisions on the 'tween decks, which creates dirt, unßeemly crowding round the door, and at times a good deal of confusion. In consequence of this arrangement the cabin accommodation seems to be enmewhafc curtailed, though in reality it is not so much so as it looks* A.B it ie, the cabin is very well arranged, and possesses one innovation on the usual plan, which deserves to be followed wherever it is possible to do so. None of the state-rooms or sleeping apartments of any description, with the exception of the captain's, open into the saloon. Since the machinery has been taken out. of the vessel, there has not been sufficient inducement in the way of cabin passengers to induce the owner to make the cabin larger. The ship has, up till this voyage, been in the Melbourne trade ever since Bhe was built, and even in that port, to which the finest olaBS of vessels afloat trade, she has always been much admired. If the Douglas is not a " clipper" in the strict sense of the term, and is not the very best of what in nautical phrase is called a " model," she ia probably one of the most comfortable and payable vessels to be found. She is adapted for any description of cargo, heavy or perishable, and cannot be surpassed for the carriage of passengers or stock. She once took nearly 200 horses from Australia to Calcutta, and landed them in fine condition. Indeed, her 'tween decks is a magnificent expanse of floor as seen now without the fihtinsg (the whole of which were burned on Somes Island), is eight feet high, and is well ventilated. Her masts are iron, and are perforated to aot as huge iron chimneys that carry off all injurious effluvia. So marked is their effect in this way that when carrying a cargo of boneß, the sailors used to find the mastheads giving forth a most intolerable stench when they had occasion to go into the tops. Even the very bitts and capstan, all iron, are converted into ventilators and safety valve* in the case of the heating of the cargo, thus avoiding any risk of fire. The carrying capacity of the vessel may be estimated by the fact that, with her 'tween decks occupied by nearly 400 passengers, Bhe has now 1750 tons of cargo in her below. But Captain Wilson says that he brought into Hobson's Bay one trip 2750 tons of miscellaneous cargo, besides a very large quantity of gunpowder, which was unloaded in the Buy. It was pleasant to observe that the crew of the veesel are participants in the general comfort and convenience. Their topgallant forecastle, besides being airy and well lighted, contains the unusual luxuries to sailors of a bathroom and washstands. Amidships is carried a powerful 10-horse power, donkey-engine and an exceedingly powerful condensing apparatus. The engine is a great labor saving machine in the general working of the vessel j and it works in connection with one of Kirkland's patent pumps, which is so constructed that by merely shifting the iron plugs closing the valves, oi which there are five, the fire-engine can be. put to work, the ship pumped out, or a fire extinguished. A novelty in her rig that will ! interest sailors is her double topgallant yards, which' enables sail to be carried on longer and taken in quicker than could possibly be done otherwise. Her steering apparatus *is [Skinner's patenf, the same as that which was seen in the Brechin Castle, and which was fully described in this journal at the time that vessel was here. There are six splendid boats on board, all of which are provided with Sweeting's patent lowering apparatus, by whioh boats can be lowered while the vessel is going at full speed j and the quicker the boat is lowered the easier and pleasanter she goes clear of the vessel. The Bailing powers of the Douglas are much superior to what might be supposed ; the log shows that she made as much as 14£ knots on the voyage out. Owing to carrying passengers this voyage, the Douglas was fitted up with a magnificent cooking range equal to the requirements of 500 persons. As the cooking apparatus on the island is not all that was desirable, the ran £c was taken out of the vessel and put up in the Barracks for the use of the immigrants, where it will no doubt now remain. Notwithstanding all the labor-saving appliances on board, the Douglas, has an enormously strong prew — no fewer than fifty-two men exclusive of officers. This is exceptional, however, and ia solely in compliance with the Immigration A_ct which compels ships carrying immigrants to carry extra strong crews. The consequence is that Captain Wilson has been able to discharge a number of his hands here, nnd give a mate and third mate to Captain Flinn. The Douglas will load here if possible. She can carry 8500 bales of wool. (PER FAVOB WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT.) To Db Tuok. Sir — In reference to my letter that was published in the Wellington Independent of Friday last, I regret having made statements which you consider slanderous. I had no intention of doing so, or so expressing any adverse opinion of your professional skill. The statements in regard to the children dying from insufficient nourishment, I am very sorry I made. Of course being in the single men's compartment-, I could form no opinion. I trust you will accept this explanation as a retractation of my previous letter, — Yours, &c, W. Tybbell. Somes Island, Bth October, 1873.