Launch of H.M.S. New Zealand.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 62, 17 March 1904, Page 4

Launch of H.M.S. New Zealand.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIP. (By Herald Correspondent.) LONDON. Feb. ■>■ The new battleship New Zealand was launched at Portsmouth yesterday under most favourable auspices and with every concomitant oi success. , , , A number of distinguish*! guests were present, including His Loyal Highness the Duke of Connaughl, who had arrived overnight, und was the guest of Admiral Sir John Fisher G.C.8., Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. In addition to the Iluke those on the launclung-plat-forni included Admiral Sir John Fisher, Lord and Lady Onslow.RearAdmiral May, Controller of the Navy, Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Nowell Salmon, Admiral the Hon. Sir E. H. Fremantle, and many other naval and military officers. There was a guard of honour composed of men of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, with the band of that corps. 0» the arrival of the Duke of Connaught at the building-slip, he was received with a royal salute, the marines presenting arms and the band playing the National Anthem. H.M.S. New Zealand is one of the ships of the King Edward VII. class, the others being the King Edward VII., the Uibernia, building at Devonport ; the Africa, building at Portsmouth ; and the Dominion, Commonwealth, and Hindustan building by contractors. The class was designed by Sir William White, late Director of Naval Construction und Assistant Controller of the Navy, though several modifications have been introduced by his successor, Mr Philip Watts. The principal particulars of the vessel are :—Length, between perpendiculars, 425 ft; length overall, about 454 ft; breadth, «*- trenie, 78ft ; displacement, 16,350 tons ; mean draught, 26} ft ; speed, 18$ knots. Armament: Four 12in b.l. guns in barbettes ; four 9.2 in b.l. guns, in barbettes, at the corners of the citadel ; 10 6in b.l. guns, in an armoured battery on the main deck ; 14 12-pounder q.f. guns, beside smaller guns. In addition there are four submerged torpedo tubes arranged, for which eighteen 18iu torpedoes will be carried, -besides six 14in torpedoes for the boat's dropping gear. An armour belt varying in thickness from 9in to 2in, and about lift in width, extending to about sJft below the water-line, will be fitted. The battery for the bin guns will be .protected by 7i» urraour, the guns being isolated by probative screens 2in in thickness. The 12in and 9.2 in barbettes will be of armour varying in thickness from 12in to 4/ixi. A protective deck of the usual turtle-back shape Is formed at the lower deck forward and aft, and the middle deck amidships, and in addition the upper deck amidships and the main <leck forward are protected. An armoured conning tower forward, and a. director tower aft, are also arranged for, and armoured hoists provided where necessary' for the supply of ammunition to the -guns.

The engines are to be of the triple expansion type of 18,000 indicuted horse-power, and steam will be supplied by 18 water tube boilers of the Niclausse type, ami three cylindrical boilers. Messrs Humphreys. Ten»ant and Co. are the contractors for the engines. The coal capacitywill be 950 tons for ordinary purposes, but stowage mil be provided for double that quantity. Two masts (the foremast having a fighting top) will be fitted, and there will be motor fans for ventilation, and it is proposed to introduce in all the living parts of the ship a system of ventilation by means of which hot air, can be pumped into the ship. It is proposed to use the wash places as cock-pits for the wounded when in action. The complement will be 777 officers and men, or 810 if used as an admiral's ship.

After some appropriate prayers had bwn offered, the christening ceremony was performed by Lady Onslow, a bottle of colonial wine being broken on the bows of fhe vessel The New Zealand took the water gracefully amid the cheers of the spectators, the band playing the National Anthem. The vessel flew the New Zealand flag, the Hovel Staa,dard and the White Ensign