§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gates head)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether it is the case that Belleville boilers are to be fitted into Her Majesty's cruisers Powerful and Terrible; and whether such boilers have received a fair ocean-going trial by the Admiralty; if so, will he state in what vessel or vessels; if not, how have the Admiralty satisfied themselves that these boilers are safe?
§ *MR. E ROBERTSONYes. The intention of the Admiralty was mentioned in the First Lord's statement last year, and the reasons were given in some detail. In the answers to questions during last Session the intended use of these boilers was frequently mentioned. The working of Belleville boilers was carefully investigated by an officer on board the steamers Armand Béhic, and Polynésien, of the Messageries Maritimes, and his report was very favourable. Belleville boilers have subsequently been fitted to Her Majesty's ship Sharpshooter, and have worked satisfactorily in every respect over long trials in the channel not at sea.
§ MR. G. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)asked whether the inspector sent to inspect these boilers was an officer in the Royal Navy?
§ *MR. E. ROBERTSONsaid, the inspector was an engineer officer of the Navy, who spoke French as English which was not regarded as a disqualification.
§ MR. W. ALLANasked whether the boilers had been reported upon by English experts or engineers, and not, by a Frenchman sent out in a French vessel to report on French boilers?
§ *MR. E. ROBERTSONI have already stated that the officer is a British subject as much as is my hon. Friend. Besides his report, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Navy visited the factories where the boilers were made and reported.
§ SIR A. K. ROLLIT (Islington, S.)asked whether these boilers had not been used in the Mercantile Marine and been found satisfactory.
§ MR. R. W. HANBURY (Preston)asked whether there would not be a trial of the boilers in a larger vessel than the Sharpshooter before they were adopted in Her Majesty's Navy?
§ *MR. E. ROBERTSONsaid the question was one that deserved consideration, He believed that the boilers had been used in the Mercantile Marine and had given satisfaction.
§ MR. G W. WOLFF (Belfast, E.)asked the number of consecutive hours during which the boilers had been tried and how often.
§ *MR. E. ROBERTSONsaid these were matters of detail on which he could not inform the hon. Member.
§ MR. W. ALLANinquired whether it was true that an explosion had taken place in one of these boilers resulting in loss of life.
§ *MR. E. ROBERTSONsaid he must ask for notice of that question.