HC Deb 01 March 1889 vol 333 cc705-6
MR. HANBURY

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, for how long H.M.S. Nile, launched on March 27th last, remained at Pembroke before being brought to Portsmouth for completion; whether she was allowed to retain her launching gear the whole time and until after her arrival at Portsmouth; whether, on her being docked at Portsmouth, the red lead with which her bottom was coated was found to have peeled off in large patches, and the submerged platings and rivets of this perfectly new vessel were found to be seriously corroded, especially along the water line, the heads of the rivets in many instances being completely eaten away; whether the Narcissus was lately found to be in a similar condition; whether red lead was used upon the bottoms of both these ships; and, if so, was it recommended by the responsible dockyard officials, and, if not, by whom; and, if the damage was not due in either case to the use of red lead, to what was it due?

LORD G. HAMILTON

There was an interval of ten months between the launch of the Nile at Pembroke and her being docked, that period having been occupied in putting in her machinery and getting her sufficiently completed to proceed to Portsmouth. A portion of the launching gear could not be removed until her arrival at the latter port, owing to there being no dock at Pembroke of sufficient size to admit a ship of her dimensions. The red lead coating was found, on the ship being docked, to have peeled off in places, causing some oxidation of the plates and rivets where this had occurred, but in no case could the corrosion be called serious. The Narcissus suffered much in the same way. Any damage that has occurred cannot be attributed to the use of red lead as a protective, but to the fact of its not having, in the present instances, afforded the protection that previous experience had given cause to anticipate. As a protective it has given hitherto sufficient satisfaction for the Admiralty to sanction its use. Endeavour will be made to detect the cause of failure in the present cases, and the necessary steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence of the circumstance.

MR. HANBURY

Was the use of red lead recommended by the Dockyard officials?

LORD G. HAMILTON

Yes; it is almost the invariable custom to use red lead.