§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what number of Belleville boilers or installations are fitted in the Sharpshooter, and are they the same in make, design and specification as those to be placed in the Powerful and Terrible, and to be used in the new cruisers to be laid down this year; what have been the nature and extent of the sea-going trials to which the boilers of the Sharpshooter have been submitted; the period in time, and the distance of the longest continuous steaming trial she has undergone; the average speed maintained thereon; also the total number of hours she has steamed since she was fitted with these boilers, and what defects have been reported, if any, and what number of tubes have been removed for repairs or replacement; and what is the cause of the prolonged detention of the steamer in harbour at Gibraltar?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON(1) There are eight Belleville Boilers in the Sharpshooter. The boilers for the Powerful and Terrible, and for the new first and second class cruisers to be laid down this year are the same in make and design as the Sharpshooter's. (2) The sea-going trials have numbered 13. The shortest trial was the usual three hours' commissioning; the longest of 30 hours. The longest in time was one of 30 hours at over 93 per cent. of her natural draught power; during that time she steamed 480 knots, at an average speed of 16 knots. The boilers of the ship have been in use since February, 1894, but the exact number of hours cannot be given at present, as the vessel is away from England. There have been no defects of any kind reported, and no tubes have been removed for repairs or replacement. (3) The only cause of any detention at Gibraltar was a defect in the machinery, and not in the Belleville Boilers. The Sharpshooter is now at sea, cruising with the Channel Squadron.
§ MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)asked, whether the Government proposed to make any trial of these boilers in vessels intermediate in size between the Sharpshooter and the Powerful and Terrible?
§ MR. ROBERTSONIn time, no doubt, it will be done.