§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the total quantity of coal taken on board H.M.S. Powerful before leaving Spithead for China; the quantities taken on board at Las Palmas, the Cape, Mauritius, Colombo, and Singapore; and the total cost of the whole; and how long she took to cover the distance between Mauritius and Colombo?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTYThe total quantity of coal taken on board by the Powerful when leaving Portsmouth was 2,796 tons; she shipped at Las Palmas 800 tons, the Cape to Hong Kong was about 8,300 tons, at Colombo 2,115 tons. Her total estimated consumption of coal during the voyage to Hong Kong was about £8,300 tons, at a total estimated cost of about £11,000. The hon. Member will understand that the figures for the consumption of coal which I have given are for all purposes, but as to the appropriation of the consumption between propelling and 831 auxiliary machinery it is not possible to form any definite conclusion until the Engine Room Register has been received. As I stated in reply to the hon. and gallant Member for the city of York, the bearings became heated during the steam trial, after leaving Mauritius, and the brasses were injured; consequently, for five days one engine was under repair, and the other working at slow speed. She took 10 days in the passage to Colombo.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY8,300 tons.