The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-25 00:00:00

IRON CASED SHIPS.

A special meeting of the officers of the Institu-
tion of Naval Architects was held on Saturday last, at the
Society of Arts' Ball, Johnotreet, Adelphi, for the purpose
of wandering what course should be taken with refereed
to suggested improvements in the 000structiou of iron-maid
doles and of iron ships getierally. The chair was occupied
=sir JOHN PISJIIGTON, Presi&ut of the Institution ; sad
were pnasst the Fad of Hardwicke, the Rev. Dr.
Woolley, Mr. F. Lloyd, Chief of the Steam tci
the Admiralty ; Mr. Abethell, the mewl tad Arias
tact-Coostructer el the Navy ; Messrs. and Ritchie,
chief annoyers to Lloyd's ; Messrs. J. D'A. Ssinuda, J.,
Scott Ruses% and J. White, shipbuilders ; Mr. J.
engineer ; Captain &divan, R.N.. C.S. of the Board
Trade, Captain Halsted, R.N.. Mr. J. J. Mecham, master
shipwright of bar Majesty's dockyard, Depdord, Mr.
Grantham, arid the secretary, Mr. E. J. Reed. During a
lengthened discussion a general desire was evioced to limit
the present operations of the institution to the collection
el information bearing upon the above and other subjects,
end a resolution was unanimously pained appointing a com-
mittee to consider such professional communications (in.
cluaing descriptions of new inventions) as may be submitted
to the institution through the secretary, and to select from
them such as they may deem suitable to be read sod die.
cussed at the meetings of the institution, and such others
as they may think it desirable simply to publish in the
Tradeationa. Sir John Pakington complained that since
be has bed presideut of the institution he bed
bees eoetinually troubled with letters from inventors ;
and stated that henceforth he must refuse to attend to
any such cornmuni.n.iocui, as the secretary was the
to pored receive them. At the conclusion of the
rive al of the officers of the institution (including the pia.
sided) proceeded to No. 7, Adelphi•terrace, and there
selected apartments which are to be converted with as
little delay as possible into permanent offices for the insti-
tution. We are informed that the institution is rapidly
increasing in numbers, the class of associates in particular
receiving daily additions, chiefly from the entrance of
officers of the royal navy.

A YACHT VOTAGI TO AUBTRALIA.—The Spray,
20 tom, purchased in Kegland by Dir. N'Pherroo, of Hobart
Town, had arrived at that city from Greenock under the
charge of Captain. L Wyse, an intrepid and able iceman,
with a crew of sic men, after a peewee of 129 days, in-
cluding detentions at Madeira and the Cape, without having
been wee love-tra. The following are the particulate of
AY remarkable mane The cutter yacht Spray left
Lansberhora the yOl de, on the 711. September. and having
called at Madeira, sailed throe on the 21st, and arrived at
the atm is the LIM November. After eight days' deten-
tion there she sailed on the 19th, and bad an excellent ma
dews to this port of 48 days. To the Caps eke beat all the
vessels that left England with her by tea days-65 days
being esespied is performing this part of the voyage. He:
greatest day's roe was 195 miles, and the shortest 11. The
crew all enjoyed good health on the voyage.—.dustrolien
end New .ftamedi Gitaite.