HC Deb 30 April 1874 vol 218 cc1409-10
MR. HANBURY-TRACY

, asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is the intention of the Government to adopt Mr. Rogers' plan for saving life from shipwreck; or, if they are not yet prepared to do so, whether they propose to take any, and if any, what steps for further testing the utility of that invention, with the view of its general adoption on the coasts of the United Kingdom if proved to be more efficacious and certain in its results than the existing rocket system?

SIR CHARLES ADDERLEY

Sir, Mr. Rogers' plan for throwing a double rope, with blocks attached, at one cast out of mortars into ships in distress, instead of the generally adopted practice of throwing first a rope by a rocket over the ship along which a block may be communicated, has had a fair trial, in accordance with the inventors' conditions, by the Board of Trade, and the received practice has been preferred by all the best authorities. There appears no reason for a repetition of the trial.