THE TURRET SHIP CERBERUS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 779, 21 February 1871, Page 2

THE TURRET SHIP CERBERUS.

A correspondent givps the following alditionol particulars with regard to the new Colonial warship:— With regard to our turret ship, the Cerberus, now on her way out here, the news ive get is not so favorable. In fact, it reveals a state of things not at all comfortable to reflect upon v hen the recent unhappy fate oi the ironclad, the Captain, is remembered. Lieutenant Panter, who is in command, writes that in crossing the Bay of Biscay the ship fell in* with very rough weather. For twelve hours she was in the most dangerous position, and it was not exp cted that she would tver weather the gale. She rolled fully 40 decree- each way ; far more than the recorded rc.lling of the Captain. She also pitched tremendously, and sometimes the whole forepart of the ship as far aft as the foremast, would be quite under water. Lieut. "Panter considers that she would never have weathered the gales off the Cape of Good Hope had she come that way instead of through the Suez Canal. The'fears of the rrew made matters worse, and added much to the difficulties the commander had to encounter. Should she arrive here in safety, "it is cl.'rtr that the difficulties and dangers of •the .voyage will immensely enhance her defensive properties, as they will lessen the chanees of her being encountered here by a rival of equal or superior power, until naval science has succeeded in constructing a vessel rombininu the maxima of fighting power and sea-worthiness, which at p esent is an unsolved problem. It has been proposed to jnake arrangements for towing her from Aden here, by which means all her masts, spars, and the top-hamper of her false deck and bulwarks might be discarded, and the vessel recover her buoyancy and sea-going .-efficiency.