§ COLONEL DENNY (Kilmarnock Burghs)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what amount of time has been incurred in overhauls on the "Hyacinth" and "Minerva" respectively since the date of handing over of the former by the builders; how much of the time spent in these overhauls has been expended during the financial year ending 31st March, 1903; and what has been the mileage run on trials and commissions respectively by these ships since the date of intimation to the Boiler Committee that these vessels were ready for comparative trials.
(Answered by Mr. Arnold-Forster.) The "Hyacinth" has been in dockyard hands for about nineteen months, and the "Minerva" for about eleven and a half months since the date when the "Hyacinth" was first commissioned—viz., 3rd September, 1900. During the financial year ending 31st March, 1903, the time thus occupied was twenty-three weeks in the case of the "Hyacinth," and twelve weeks in the case of the "Minerva." The "Hyacinth" has run 8,219 knots, and the "Minerva" 9,142 knots on trials since the date of the intimation to the Boiler Committee that the ships were ready for trials, and the total distance run whilst in commission since the 1st January 1901, has been:—"Hyacinth," 16,831 knots; "Minerva," 36,660 knots.