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Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1396, 21 January 1873, Page 2

There were no arrivals or departures at the port yesterday, owing to the heavy surf running on the bar. The Alhambra again shewed up about tide-time, but as it was impossible for the Dispatch to go outside, she was signalled to go on to Hokitika and return. After being tendered at that port she will return here and be despatched for Melbourne. The steamers St. Kilda and Kennedy remained at their moorings yesterday, bein^ unable to leave in consequence of the heavy, sea on the bar. Were it not that the name of Henry Bessemer stands in the front rank of inventors, one would feel inclined to smile at his plan for obviating the perils of sea-sickness by providing a swinging saloon amidships. Hhas obtained the valuable co-operation of Mr Reed, the late Chief Constructor of the Navy, who is designing two vessels to be used as ferry steamers across the Straits of Dover. The vessels are to go twenty miles an hour ; they are 350 ft in length, and have engines of 5000 indicated horse-power. The machinery is at the stem and stern, with the Bessemer saloon between. The experiment is thus on quite an enormous scale, and there can be little doubt that the' vessels will be a success, even though the sick chamber should not- realise expectations. Ido not know the extent of Mr Bessemer'a nautical, experience, but there are few of those who have semicircumnavigated the world who will have faith in his scheme. Ibis the up and down motion, rather than the lateral, which produces that peculiar disturbance of the diaphragm which eventuates in an appeal to the steward. Tbe chamber with which he proposes to make his tirst experiment will be of magnificent dimensions, 50ft long, 30ft wide, and 20ft deep. The adjustments are hydraulic, and are expected to work with great smoothness.— "CEdipns," injilelbourne ZitaiXer. ' ~: An ingenious method of stopping leaks in iron ships, when at sea, has lately been patented, the object being effected by what are called "safety-plates." The plates are " dished" (that is, dish shape) ; consequently, when the hollow side is pressed against the plates of a ship, the safety plate f ts, close, and will keep water out when firmly held with screws. By a clever contrivance, when once the leak is discovered, means can be promptly taken for fitting on the new plate A weighted line is dropped through the hole ; this is laid hold of by lines drawn under tbo ship; the weight is taken off and replaced by a screw bolt; a plate with indiarnbber edges is next screwed to the bolt, dropped overboard, and drawn into position by the line hanging through the leak ; an inner plate is then screwed to the inner end of the bolt, and thus the leak is covered on both the inside and outside.