THE INVENTOR OF GUN-BOATS.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 285, 13 July 1860, Page 4

THE INVENTOR OF GUN-BOATS.

-Some years ago, when the Duke of Wellington was staying at Ted worth, Mr. Smith communicated to the great Captain bis notions respecting gun-boats. ' The Duke listened, as he always did with attention to the squire's remarks, but gave no opinion at the time respecting, the subject of them. Next morning as they were both walking on the terrace after breakfast, the Dlike said, " Smith, I have been thinking that there iff a good deal in. what you said last night about those gun-boat,s and I should advise your writing to the First Lord of the Admiralty," then Lord -, which Mr. Smith accordingly did, but received no answer. Some time after, when walking down Regent-street, he met the First Lord, whom he knew personally, and asked him in the course of conversation, if he had received his letter containing suggestions for the introduction of gun-boats. The First Lord replied that he had, but. that the Admiralty could not pay attention to all the recommendations made to them. Upon this, Mr. Smith took off his hat, and turning away from him with a stately bow, observed, " What His Graoe the Duke of "Wellington has considered worthy of attention, I think Your Lordship might at least have condescended to notice. 3' Yet within ten years from this interviewJJ one fleet of our formidable " vixen craft" is at sea, and another ia being fitted out for service. Little perhaps did the spectators, who proudly gazed not long since upon the goodly swarm of these dark hulls at Spithead, know that tbe« projector of them was a fpxhunter, and that to a foxhunter's clear head and farseeing eye was the gallant Wildman mainly indebted for "the single little vessel" (the Staunch) with which he demolished four large junks in. the Chinese seas. Yet it has been said that Mr. Smith was a foxhunter and nothing more. The verdict of true Englishmen will be very different.™ Reminiscences of tin late IT. A. Smith, by Sir J. E. Eardley Wilmot. Land Law Refoem.—A meeting of the Land Law reform Alliance was held on Tuesday, at the Rotunda, South Head Road, to consider "the present alarming state of the colony." Mr. Lockhart presided, Mr. Douglas moved the first resolution, as follows: — " That- this meeting take into consideration the deplorable state of the colony, and calmly examine the causes of the present dismay which overcasts the people; also the alarming effects produced upon the industrial and other classes." The speaker then went on to describe the state of the colony, which he said was insolvent Confidence was lost even in the administration of justice, and shortly it might be found necessary to petitition the Imperial Parliament to amend our precious Constitution, and to let us lapse into the old system of Go/eminent. Mr. W. B. Allen, who se3onded the, resolution, thought that the present distress would continue till there was a thorough chaDge in our policy. The resolution was then passed. Mr. Benbow then took up the burden of the lament, and whilst condemning the various ministries under responsible Government for witholding the people's inheritance to the land, included in his censures the Governments of Mr. Parker, Mr. Donaldson, Mr. Cowper, and that of Mr. Robertson, whom he designated as the " Yahoo Minister," who in the House was to be seen moving about after the fashion of the " untamed hyena in Wombweli's menagerie;" and he stated his belief that some of "our representa-. tive body, if in the bottomless pit, would make hell itself confused." He did not say that of all, or of a majority. He would not advocate the passing of a bill which should provide that, if " you wanted land, and, were fitted to cultivate it, yet could not buy it, you should have it given to you." Mr. Bouran addressed the meeting at considerable length, urging upon his hearers the necessity for discussion of matter affecting their, interests, and the ways and means for their relief, the paymant of members of Parliament, and'for organisation and union among themselves, with the view to enforcing their rights, for the "honor and glory of their country." After some further speechifying the meeting separated. '—Sydney Southern Cross.

Now Screw.—A steam yaclir, forty feet in length, six feet beam, and seven and a half feet deep, has been launched by Messrs. William Smith and Co., Cartsdyke. The screw, which is threebladed, is fitted at the bovv, and the vessel is dragged forward instead of being propelled from abaft as in the ordinary mode. The engine is of eighthorse power, is ou the rotary principle, and is exceedingly simple in construction. On Saturday the yacht, which left East India harbour oh a trial trip, with a pressure of 161b. of steam, proceeded smoothly up the river, and after laying-to for a short time,1 the pressure was increased to 801b., when she steamed back to the harbour at the rate of from eight to nine knots an hour. The engine worked very smoothly. Some slight alteration will be made in the screw, which ig expected to increase the rate of speed. This novelty in marine engineering is:the.invention of>Mr. David Andrew, engineer to Messrs. Pattens and Co., Baker-street.