§ SIR WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if he will say what is the nature of the repairs to the engines and water-tube boilers about to be undertaken on His Majesty's cruiser "Furious"; what is the estimated cost of these repairs; and what has been the amount spent on similar repairs to this vessel since first commissioned.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.The repairs to the engines and boilers of the "Furious" involve refitting of the pistons, slide valves, main bearing brasses, etc; re-metalling of the thrust collars, and refit of the thrust shafts; repairs to the auxiliary engines, testing, and, when necessary, replacing all main and auxiliary steam and exhaust pipes and valves; renewal of uptakes of boilers and lower parts of funnels; renewal of a number of generator tubes in the boilers, and various minor repairs. The estimated cost for labour and materials is £19,000 The total cost of repairs to engines and boilers since first commissioning in 1898 has been £24,617.