§ MR. GOURLEYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the boilers of the Bellona cruiser, even after fitting the tubes with ferrules, are a failure, and when recently subjected to an experimental steam trial at Keyham, for the purpose of ascertaining if an alteration in the furnace bridge would prevent the boiler tubes from choking, these, when tested upon only three-fifths of full-power speed, proved ineffective, and at the end of eight hours it was found necessary to draw the fires, and, when examined, the ferrules were found to be in a bad condition, some completely, and the remainder partly, choked: and will ho state how many vessels of tins and other classes are fitted with single-chamber boilers?
* SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHAlthough the boiler tubes of the Bellona have been ferruled, her boilers are not giving satisfaction. But in the Barham, a sister ship, whose boiler tubes have been similarly ferruled, the same difficulty has not arisen. If further experience with the Bellona's tubes continues to be unsatisfactory, the boilers can be made efficient by retubing. The boilers of the Bellona are of locomotive type. This is quite distinct from the single-chamber boilers referred to in the question. These latter are tank boilers.