INCREASE IN THE NAVY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 March 1901, Page 3

INCREASE IN THE NAVY.

The Yota for tha Current Year £30,875,000. All Fast Steamers of Mercantile Marine at Call of the Navy. [by ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, —COPXRIGHT, | [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. | London, March 13. The navy estimates for the year 19011902 provide for an expenditure of £30,875,000, being an increase of £2,033,000 on the previous year. Nine millions will be devoted to the work of construction, the following additions being proposed: —• Three battleships. Six armoured cruisers. Two third-class cruisers. Ton torpedo boat destroyers. Tire torpedo boats. Five submarine boats of the Holland type. The finest vessels' of nearly all the great steamship companies are held at the disposition of the Admiralty as cruisers.

Eighteen of the largest and swiftest have been subventionod by Government. In connection with the navy estimates, the output of armour during the past year has increased 50 per cent. With the exception of two battleships, and one’ armoured cruiser, all the new vessels are to he built privately. A committee of experts appointed by Gosehen in July last to enquire into the efficiency of tho Belleville boilers on warships, has presented its interim report, and recommends the use in future of some typo of a wafcr-tubo boiler other than tho Belleville, but Belleville boilers already fitted on vessels may remain.