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Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 104, 19 May 1937, Page 15

Plans for a "non-magnetic" ship, second of its kind ever to be built, were recently announced by the British Acimiralty. Designed for world-wide observations of tho behaviour of comna:ises at sea, the A'essel will be practivaJly devoid of iron, steel, and other nuignetis materials that might affect its son&itive scientific instruments and throw tliem in error. Because of tlie nrjsterious poriodic changes in tho earth's magnetic field, the reading of a compass at any given point on the glffie shifts slightly from year to year. Ifcnce ap-to-dae magnetic observations a»o of urgcnt importance in preparing navigation charts to guide the world 's vessels. For two decades the American non-magnetic yacht Carnegie, of the '"arnegie InstitUtion, cruised the scas colioutiitg this information, until it was destTOyed by an explosion at Samoa in i929. The British vessel will carry on its work. "R.E.S. Researeh" ia the ztamo of the ship.