The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-05 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

—•—
ADMIRALTY, JAN. 4. APPOINTMENTS. Sur-
Aeon J. F. Mitchell, to the Pantaloon.
Navel Cadets (nominated) F. S. Jackson, H. L. Hub.
bard, A. P. W. Golitsmid, F. P. Goddard, A. E. C. G.
Grant, N. S. Girdlestone, H. P. German. C. W. F. G.
Clarke, A. J. Chancellor, H. Hampton, H. B. Barrow. M.
Blake, H. Beanclerk, F. P. Taylor, A. T. Sibbald, H. B.
Roofer, G. F. B. Pullen, S. 0. Peahen, G.G. 8. Paterson,
W. Moore, 1). C. Macgillicuddy, G. Mc Kinstry, D. S.
Lacy, and A. B. Kitchener.

CHATHAM, JAN. 4.
TRIAL OP ♦ DOUBLE SCRIM STEAMER.—The
official trial of the twin screw tender just constructed at
this dockyard for her Majesty's ironclad frigate Bel-
',wonkier), 14, 1,000 horse-power, took place at Saltpan-reach,
near Ch►tham harbour, yesterday, nadir the superintend-
ence of Captain G. G. Randolph, and the other officials
connected with the steam reserve, the firm of Messrs. John
Penn and Soo, the makers of the engines, being represented
by Mr. Anderson. The engines are oonstructed on the
high pressure principle, and are capsole of working up to
tan times their nominal horse-power. The machinery
drives separate screwy, each being placed underneath the
stern quarter of the vessel, this arrangement, on which the
advantage of the screw principle so much depends, enabling
the two 'crews to be worked each io contrary directions.
The screws ere four-bladed, each propeller having a diame-
ter of 2 feet 6 inches, and set at a pitch of
3 feet 11 inches ; the screw-shafting is 3 feet 6 inches
in length. The total weight on board was about two tons
of ballast and 19 cwt. of coals, the engines and machinery,
which occupy but a very small specie, weighing together
about four tons. At starting from the dockyard pier the
draught of water was 1 foot 9 inches forward, and 3 feet
aft, the upper edge of the screw blade hiving an immersion
of only 1 inch. On reaching &Rpm' Reach six runs were
made over the measured mile at full ■peed, and in face
of a strong wind, when the results were highly satisfac-
tory, the mean speed realised being 7.718 knots per
hoar. During the trial the average number of revolu-
tions mad* by the screw per minute was 375, and the
mean pressure of steam 9010 s. With one of the screws
working a-head and the other astern, the complete circle
was made in rather under • minute, the vessel turning
mewl as pearl] as possible in • circle of which her own
length was the radius. At the close of the trials the
double-screw launch steamed up to the dockyard at the
rate of between six and seven knots per hour.

ROYAL NATIONAL LIPZBOAT INSTITUTION.

Yesterday a meeting of this institution was held
at ite house, John.street, Adelphi. Mr. Thomas Chapman,
F.R.S.V.P., in the chair. The minutes of the previous
meeting were read. The committee expressed their deep
sympathy with the two poor widows and five orphans
of the poor men who perished by the capsizing of the
Lizard lifeboat, during a burrican on Tuesday last, and voted
1001. in aid of the fund now raising for than. The life-
boat it appears was completely wrecked on the rocks. and •
new lifeboat was ordered to be sent off by the institution,
to replace it in a few days. In a large fleet of 153 lifeboats
casualties must it is feared be occasionally expected. It is,
however. gratifying to know that they are unusually rare,
three only, including the Lizard one, having occurred in
three years, with the loss of six lives, and that the lifeboats
of the institution during that period had been manned on
occasions of service and exercise by upwards of 18000 persons.
Rewards amounting to 13W. were granted to tbe following
lifeboats of the institution for saving life from shipwreck
during the recent gales. The "Albert Edward" lifeboat,
presented by the city of Bristol to the institution, and
stationed at Padstow, rescued under most difficult circum-
stances the crew of 17 men of the barque Juliet, of
Greenock, which was wrecked off Padstow during a strong
gale from W.S. W. en the 29th ult. This lifeboat is named
after his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in accordance
with the desire of the citizens of Bristol. The third ser-
vice clasp was also voted to Mr. Daniel Shea, chief officer
of the coastguard at Padstow, and the silver medal of the
institution to Mr. William Hills, the coxswain of the life.
boat at Padstow, in recognition of their brave services in
the lifebosta oo this and previous occasions. A letter
was read from General Knollys expressing the
great satisfaction of his Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales at this valuable lifeboat service. The
" Amadei Venable. lifeboat of the institution,
*tattooed at Arklow, Ireland, rescued 34 men belonging to
the ship Tenissariao, of Liverpool. which was wrecked on
Arklow Bank on the 25th ult., during a gale of wind from
N. This was another meritorious cue, as the sailors were
taken off the rigging in a very exhausted state. The
silver medal of the institution was also granted to Peter
Kavanagh, the coxswain of the Arklow lifeboat, for his
general brave service, in the lifeboat iu cues of shipwreck.
The Wexford lifeboat saved four men from the screw
steamer Barbadian, of Liverpool, which was wrecked on
the Blackwater Bank during a S.S.E. gale and heavy sea,
and the sailors when taken off s ere in a very exhausted
condition. The Providence lifeboat, stationed at Dan.
genets, rescued the crew of six men and a boy from a
French vessel called the Dieu Protege Alexandre et Lieu,
of Dieppe, which was wrecked off Dungeness during • gale
from S. W. on the 31st ul4. The lifeboat was reported to have
behaved remarkably well on the occasion. While returning
from the wreck with the shipwrecked crew she was struck
by three heavy seas, which filled her twice, at the same
time washing the French boy overboard. The lifeboat's
crew, however, succeeded in reaching him and dragging him
into the boat. The Tyrella lifeboat saved the crew of five
men of the schooner Daniel O'Connell, of Adder"; the
People's Journal lifeboat, stationed at Peterhead, rescued one
man from the schooner Wilbelmins, of Voogd= ; tbe New.
biggin lifeboat rescued the crew of nine men of the brigan-
tine Neptune, of De:aware, United States ; and the Hauxley
lifeboat saved the crew of four men from the schooner Tom
Criogle, of Thurso. It was also reported that the
Rammate lifeboat had, in conjunction with the steam tug
Aid, rescued under very perilous circumstances the crew
of seven men of the Dutch brig Zuploeg, of Hoogez,
which was wrecked on the Goodwin Sands during a gale
from E.N.E., and heavy swell, on the 15th ult. The same
lifeboat also went off on the 30th ult., and succeeded, after
much difficulty, in saving the crew of 16 men of the barque
Norma. of Bremen, which bad also struck on the Goodwin
Sands during a fresh breeze from S.W. to W. It appears
that during the past year the lifeboats of the institution
have altogether saved 5.12 lives, besides bringing 20 vessels
into port. In addition to this it has granted rewards,
amounting to 1201. 104., to the crews of shore boats and
others, for rescuing 182 person. during the same period,
thus making a grand total of 714 lives caved during the
peat year through the instrumentality of the National Life-
boat Institution. Rewards amounting to 891, were
also voted to pay the expenses of the life-
boats of the institution stationed at Bronglity-ferry,
St. Andrew's, Fraserburgh, Whitburo, Ballycotton, Wick-
low, Tynemoutb, Lytham. and Southport, for putting off to
render assistance to vessels in distress, or for going out in
reply to signals of distress from vessels which, however, had
afterwards got out of danger. Various other rewards were
also granted to the crews of shore boats and others for
saving many lives from different wrecks on our coasts during
the past month. In the same period the institution bad
sent new lifeboats to Courtown, on the Irish coast, and to
Arbroath, oo the Scotch coast; two lifeboats were also about
to be sent away to Hauxley, and Newbiggin, Northumber-
land, the free conveyance having been given to the two
boats by the Great Northern aid North-Eastern Railway
Companies. A benevolent lady has recently presented to the
institution the cost of the Worthing lifeboat establishment.
The late Captain Sykes, R N., bad left to the society a
legacyfree of duty. The demands on the institution
continue to be very heavy. The society has also a large
number of new lifeboat establishments io course of forma-
l Mon which will involve • considerable outlay on the institu.
tion. The socamite of the institution for the past year
were ordered to be sent to Mr. Bergh* the public' accountant,
who had bees for the past 14 years the auditor of the
society. Payments amounting to 2,0001. were ordered lobe
I made on various lifeboat establishments. A cordial vote of
thanks having beep given to Mr. Chapman and Sir Edward
Purott for their able conduct in the chair at the meetings
of the institution during the past year, the proceedings
terminated.

THE INFANTRY BARRACKS AT WINDSOR.—The
ietended extension of the Infantry Burack-ground at
Windsortwill cause destruction of between 50 and 60 cot-
tage* occupied by the poorer classes. the demolition of
which has already been pot in force, so that in a short
time the ground, about seven acres sdjoising the back of
the barracks, will be cleared sad !afterwards enclosed by a
high brick wall. The property was onrchased by govern-
ment of the Rev. Thomas Carter, Vice.Provoet of Eton,
for 30.0001., and will be an important appendage to the
berm* as a drill posed.