§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether he can state the nature of the defects in the boilers or engines of H.M.S. "London" which has prevented the completion of her late trial, and whether these trials are at the contractor's expense.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThere were no defects in the boilers of the "London," the completion of her trials has been prevented by injury to the port air pump, two of the bucket valves having been carried away. The contractors for the machinery of the ship have gone into liquidation, and the work has been carried on in the first instance by the Receiver, and recently by the Admiralty. The question as to the apportionment of the expense incurred by the failure of machinery during the trials will be decided on the completion of the accounts as between the various parties concerned.