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Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1048, 16 November 1903, Page 3

With the launch of H.M.s. Dominion, at Barrow, by the Princess Louise (Duchess of Argyll), tho whole of tho King Edward VII. class of battleships will be afloat.. Their successors on tho stocks are not yet started, and will not be until tho commencement of another financial year, in April next. Thero aro (says the Pall Mall Gazetto) to bo three of tho new class to be built at Chatam, Portsmouth, and Devonport respectively, and they are to be 11 improved ” King Edwards. The limit of size and weight in battloships and armament does not appear to have yet been reached, for the now vessels are to bo of no loss than 18,000 tons, or about 1500 tons heavier than the King Edward class. They will bo the first battleships of the new designer at tho Admiralty (Mr Phillip Watts), and the most notable departure in their construction will bo seen in tho amourplating for tho side 3of the hull. An armour bolt of lOin Krupp steel, tapering away to 6in, will bo continued the whole length of tho broadside. This is the first time this has been attempted in battleships of any country. From submerged torpedo tubes, four 50-ton wire guns, eight quick-firing 27-ton guns, and twelve bin guns are included in this armament—a battery of enormous capacity. A speed of 16 knots, in spite of immense weight, will be stipulated for.

During a heavy thunderstorm recently, a youth named Howson went to post a letter at Kalamanda, in West Australia. As he did not return, a »2arch was made> and the body was found in the hollow of a large tree, which had been split from top to bottom. The lad had evidently taken shelter in the tree, and been killed by the lightning. His face was unmarked, but his clothes were torn to shreds. The dead body ol the boy’s dog lay. beside the tree.