MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty has he any official information to the effect that during the preliminary cruise preceding the Naval Manœuvres now proceeding the cylindrical boiler ship "St. George "used 383 tons of coal, while the Belleville boiler ship "Ariadne "used 800 tons; can he give any explanation of the fact that the Belleville boiler ship consumed twice as much coal as the cylindrical boiler ship; and were the two ships making the same voyage in the same squadron at the same speed; and, if not, 25 what was the difference between their respective voyages, speeds, and distances run.
MR. GOSCHENI have no information to the effect suggested by the hon. Gentleman. The Admiralty have received, as yet, no report upon the movements of the cruisers named during the preliminary cruise, nor as to the coal burnt.