A NEW DEPARTURE IN SHIP'S TEIEGRAPHY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11501, 6 February 1903, Page 9

A NEW DEPARTURE IN SHIP'S TEIEGRAPHY.

A gathering of engine-ore anil other expert* assembled recently on board Messrs Mcll.wr*ith, l£cE*oh*rn and Co.'b inter-State steamship Kaigoorlie, at Sydney, lac the purpose of witnessing an interesting exhibition, of the working of the Alcock Eloctrical Dial Signalling System ac applied l to ahip'» telegraphy. Mr McLaren, of Melbourne, who i« at present on n< visit to Sydney, explained the advamtagea of the new eyetem over the old mechanical telegraph, ana gave practical demonstrations, which favourably impressed the assembled gathering. The system ynm installed , on the Kaigoorlie prior to leaving Melbourne, and during the voyage acres* many beets were made wHfa highly gratifying result*. The installation, it we* etated, had been completed within lie. space of three hours, .while from, five to six days would be occupied, in fitting o> veseel with tihe ordinary mechanical telegraph. Numerous advantages f claimed far the new patent,, tihe prinail being the ease with which it is workand ite absolute reliability. The transmitter erected on the bridge is similar in appearance to the meohunioal appliance, but instead of the heavy statin necessaoy in ordvr to work the chains and) cords in sending direction* to the engine-room, the slightest movement is ail that is required by the new invention. The directions are transmitted by c, aeries of 12 elsctrio wires contained in a cable running from the bridge to the engineroom. Immediately » signal is given by the officer on, the bridge am electric bell rings and continues to ring until the engineer has repeated to the officer the direction received by him. By thie romuns the master or officer in command ia assured tihat his order hae been received and carried out; but to make assurance doubly sure an automatic tell-twle bae been introduced, which operates quite independently of tie engineer. Immediately that officer moves hae engine the transmitter, which is connected with tho propeller shaft, registers on the dial on the bridge -the direction in which _ the ship is proceeding, and aY the same time records the rate of progress in number of revolutions per minute. The value of thie rapidity of receipt and registration of orders from the bridge, in' the event of a. misinterptetaition in the engineroom, muet be apparent.- To the sijrneJCing telegraph there may be attached a contrivance which will record"on a tape every order transmitted from the bridge to the engine-room. This tape, being in a. special obam-ber, oan be sealed down. t,vd made available for inspection, if desirable, only at the end of the voyage. Those who have had prac-

tlcal atpetieace of the ehip'e t*3«jt»ph, m now in vie, know the great inoonvwu*ao« of the •n»cb»nicaUy-work»<i teiegTaph, bothitt imtailation ana upkeep, «wuig to the ftck that ail turn* aad ooeaeM muat be fitted with chains and guide pulley*. Witlx tise miU* di*l all dauns aad puiJeyt axe doi» aw*y, with, *te> the aoa—m? far adjusting msxvwt; while aU working part* ai« immed*attlr ao* ceeaibta and easy ol manipulation. It m invended to ouaiinu* the teat* doting th« voyage of tbo fialgooxlto to Western An** tnOia.