SHIPPING.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 228, 2 August 1881, Page 2

SHIPPING.

jPOBT OF LYTTELTON.

Wbathbb Bbpobt—August 2, 9 a.m. Weather, blue sky and cloudy. Wind, calm. Barometer, 30.33; thermometer.

High Water—To-morrow. Morning 9.10 •, evening, 9.35.

Abetted— August 2. Rotorua, s.s., 576 tons, Tozer, from Auckland ’via East Coast ports. Passengers—Misses Kingsford (2), Power. Bnller, Mesdames Butt and Harrington, Messrs Harrington, Martin, Jameson, Skoat, Clarke, Burnett, Qoodall, Engleman, Brown, Storm, Key, Hankinson, Meidrum ; steerage 8. Union Steamship Comany, agents. Grafton, a a., 242 tons, Johnson, from Wellington. Passengers—Misses Wilson and MoBeath, Messrs Uayland and Colony ; steerage, 6 P. Cunningham and Co., agents Cleared— A gust 2. Eemington, barque, 999 tons, Carr, for London. Dalgety and Co , agents. Sailed —August 2. Sarah Scott, barque, 661 tons, Estoll. for Cork or Falmouth. P. Cunningham and Co. and Royse, Stead and Co., agents In consequence of the grounding of the Taiaroa at Dunedin yesterday, she was unable to leave till to-day. See is therefore duo at Lyttelton to-morrow morning. The Remington has finished loading for the United Kingdom. The brigantine Prosperity from Stewart a Island, arrived yesterday in command of Captain ' 'owper, last hero in the Jessie Niccol. The vessel had a three days' run. and brought a cargo of timber consigned to Messrs K. Wood The Secretary of the Now Zealand Shipping Company writes:—The report of the voyage of Waipa which appears in the G LOBIS is not strictly correct. Mr Bungard, who is really second officer (although acting as first since Captain Gorn’s decease) is made to appear as though now in command of the ship, whereas Mr J. M. Baxter, the chief officer, assumed the command after the sad event referred to. Messrs Dent y and Brothers, of Dumbarton, launched on June 15th a steamer for the Peninsular and Oriental Company, which was named the Clyde. She is a vessel of about 4500 tons gross capacity, and will have engines capable of indicating 4000-horse power. Very special attention is being given to the passenger accommodation, which will be of an exceptionally comfortable character. The large square saloon and music-room above it are being constructed from designs made by an architect in the popular and so-called Queen Anne’s style. The passenger cabins are so arranged, both for first and second-class passengers, as to give a very large additional space for each passenger carried, compared with the usual allowance for this purpose in sea-going steamers. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. Auckland, August 1. Arrived —Ashmore, ship, from London, 93 days from port to port, with forty-six passengers. Her mizan sails were carried away three weeks ago. Borealis and Cutty Sark, from Lyttelton. Pobt Chalmbbs, August 1. Arrived—Sunday, Qlengariff, barque, from New York. , , , , ~ The Taiaroa struck on a mud bank and could not get away to-day. H.M.3. POLYPHEMUS. [The “ Times,” June 16.] Yesterday afternoon, at ten minutes before 3 o’clock, there was successfully launched from the Royal Dockyard at Chatham one of the most remarkable examples, if not the most remarkable example, of naval architecture ever floated in connection with naval warfare. This vessel is the double-screw steel armour-plated torpedoram Polyphemus, the construction of which was commenced on the 21st of September, 1878. The chief mission of the Polyphemus will be to act as a ram and torpedo vessel, and with this work in view most of the considerations which obtain in other ships of war have been set aside—safety and speed, of course, excepted, although the thinness of her armour would at the first glance lead to the conclusion that even safety has been neglected. This, however, is not so, as will presently be seen. _ It is to be borne in mind that the Polyphemus is, after all, only an experimental vessel, embodying the most practical and advanced ideas af those who advocate the principle upon which her design has been based. For the design the country is indebted to MrE. Barnaby, C. 8., Director of Naval Construction, who has worked out every detail, keeping the object in view, as above stated, steadily in mind. It is quite possible that exceptions may be taken by some to this vessel, but it should be home in mind that this, like all other departures from the beaten track in naval construction, is bat an experiment, although a big and an essentially practical one. There is, however, no way by which the Admiralty are able to demonstrate a principle, except by construction on the actual scale required by practice. Anything short of this would bo practically valueless. The hull proper—that is to say, the iron and steel construction —of the rolyphemus resembles somewhat that of the once celebrated "Winona cigar-ship—that is to say, she is more or leas pointed at the ends, while her midship section approaches the circular; more nearly, however, resembling an ordinary ship with an arched deck. Upon this structure is mounted a superstructure of iron and timber, consisting or a main deck running fore and aft, and above it a hurricane deck. At intervals along the sides of the hurricane deck will be placed six turrets—three on either side—which will carry the heaviest class of Nordenfelt guns. Protruding upwards through this deck are two protected conning towers, one at each end, which are rigidly connected with the main structure of the vessel, and which form means of ingress and egress to and from her interior. There are also two ventilators and a smoke funnel, which are likewise connected with the main body of the ship. The superstructure itself may all be shot away without in anj[ way injuring the vessel proper or impairing her powers, save only as regards the Nordenfelt guns. The steam steering apparatos is placed below, over the after boiler room, and the steering room is in telegraphic communication with the forward conning tower. The steering apparatus can, however, be actuated from the conning tower by manual gear which is fitted therein. As the Polyphemus carries no canvas, masts are dispensed with, and beyond a flagstaff or two nothing will appear above her decks bnt the towers, the ventilators, and the funnel. She will be propelled by twin screws,_ which are carried in framings, one on either side near her stem. These screws are three-bladed, 14ft in diameter, from 15ft to 17ft pitch, and with a blade surface in each screw of 45ft. She is also fitted with two rudders, which are placed under her bull near her bows, and can be lowered for use and raised again into recesses in which they are ordinarily carried They are intended to be used for special manoeuvring purposes. The ram projects some 14tt beyond the body of the vessel, and is made hollow for the discharge of Whitehead torpedoes. The port or opening is covered by a solid steel cap, which forma the ram-point, but which, by means of a twisted sliding bar, can be easily pushed forward and turned up to allow of the discharge of tho torpedo some Bft below water-level, and is as easily closed afterwards. Besides this, there are four other torpedo ports for the discharge of the same class of weapon, two being placed on either side of the vessel near the haws. She will also carry soar or deck torpedoes. The framing of the Polyphemus is of BandoreSiemens steel, over which is a double layer of i-inoh plates of the same material. Upon this, again, is superimposed a plating of Whitworth fluid compressed steel, tho plates measuring 10ft. long by 2(t. 6in. deep and lin. thick. Her outer armour consists of small plates or scales, also of Whitworth compressed steel, measuring lOiu. square by lin. thick, running off to sin. at the ends. The plates are fastened on by five screws, one at each corner, which holds three other plates, and one in the centre. This plating covers her curved deck and extends a short distance down below water level. The vessel measures 240 ft. long between perpendiculars, and has an extreme breadth of 40ft., with a depth of hold of_ 18ft. 9in. Her immersed midship section is 625 square feet, and she draws 19ft. 6in. of water forward and 20ft. 6in. aft., her displacement load being 2640 tons. Her engines, which are by Messrs Hnmphrya, Tennant and Co., are of the compound, horizontal, single piston-red type, having four cylinders, the two highpressure being 38 inches in diameter, and the two low pressure 64 inches in diameter, with a 39-inch stroke. Her indicated horse power is 5500, and her estimated maximum speed 17 knots. Steam will he supplied from 10 boilers of tho locomotive type, at a working pressure of 1201 b per square inch, they having been tested to double that pressure—viz., 2401 b. per square inch. The air-compressing machinery for tho torpedoes and the steam steering apparatus are by Mr Peter Brotherhood. The weight of the machinery, inclusive of the water in the boilers and 10 tons of spare gear is 490 tons.