The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-19 00:00:00

STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS.

The Select Committee of the House of Commons ap-
pointed to inquire into the causes and means of prevent-
ing explosions of steam boilers, met again yesterday, Mr.
Hick in the chair. Mr. Galloway, chief surveyor of steam
vessels to the Board of Trade, was first examined. He
stated that when examining a boiler they made a thorough
external and internal inspection ; and when they found
any defects either in construction or otherwise, they
drew the attention of the owners to them, and when
these defects were remedied they made a declaration,
if they found the boilers sound, to that effect,
when the Board of Trade would grant a certi-
ficate for the steamer to carry passengers. It
was not compulsory upon owners, however to
take certificates when not carrying passengers. Their
inspectors were so thorough that they had scarcely any
explosions, and he believed therefore that their system
was very effective in the prevention of accidents generally;
still, at the same time, they did not relieve the owners
from responsibility. Me did not, however, consider that
system sufficiently strict, as illustrated by the im-
perfect examination obtained when a s team e
was in a hurry to leave port. He would not advise
absolute compulsion, because that would relieve owners
from responsibility, which would be a disadvantage. In
regard to land boilers, he suggested that the Board of
Trade should appoint district inspectors, who should have
power to inspect all boilers before they were put into
use. He strongly urged that the management
should be a Government department, by whom
the chief inspectors should, be appointed. He
also approved of the usual coroner's inquiry being held
In tihe appointment of inspectors he would give no voice
to the steam users, not even allowing them to propose a
candidate for approval by the Government. The number
of marine boiler explosions was so small that in thirty
years he had only known about seven, which, although
the number of marine boilers was much less in proportion
to the number of land boilers, was very much less than the
land explosions. There was no doubt that a very large
number of steam boilers passed into steam vessels without
inspection.—Kr. Rident, proprietor of the Farnworth
Paper Works and the Standish Works at Wigan, was also
examined before the committee adjourned.

ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A. POLICEMAN
IN NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

Between seven and eight o'clock yesterday morning
a man named R. Armstrong went into the shop of
Mr. Turnbull, sadler, Newgate-street, Newcastle-on
Tyne, and offered a saddle and bridle for sale. Mr. Turn-
bull, who had previously received information from th
Northumberland police that a saddle had been stolen fro
Farnley, detained him, as the saddle he offered for sale
answered the description of the one which had been stolen.
A policeman was sent for, and Police-constable Thomas
Finlay came, and Mr. Turnbull and the policeman were
about to seize hold of Armstrong, when he drew a revolver
and fired at Mr. Turnbull's head, but the shot whizzed
past his head and entered the policeman's left arm. He
then attempted to shoot himself. Armstrong, who is
said to be a farmer's son belonging to Fell Side, near
Corbridge, has been in the county lunatic asylum at Mor-
peth for some time, but has been out for five weeks.
He was seized by several men and taken to the Prud-
hoe-street Police-station. The policeman was also
carried to the station, where he was attended by Dr.
Hume.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—The number of visitors pre-
sent yesterday was, by season tickets, 1,318 ; by payment,
5,569 ; total, 6,887.
The committee appointed to inqure into the law
of pawnbroking met again yesterday, when Mr. M‘Kay,
the Provost of Pollockshaws, who is himself a pawnbroker,
and Mr. Schcolar, a Glasgow pawnbroker, were the chief
witnesses examined.
THE NORTHERN COAST OF GERMANY.—A notice
has been issued by the North German Government stating
that on the northern coast of Germany orders have been
given to take up the sea-marks, to withdraw the light-
ships, and to extinguish the fixed lights.
AID FOR THE WOUNDED.—A meeting is to take
place to-morrow evening, at half-past eight, in the Gym-
nasium, King's-cross, for the purpose of forming a society
to raise subscriptions to aid the wounded in the impending
war between France and Prussia. An object so humane
must commend itself alike to the judgment and
feelings of all. Mr. C. Luntz is the interim secretary to
the fund.

Captain W. H. Noble, R.A., Deputy Director
General of Ordnance, Royal Arsenal, and Captain C. B.
Brackenbury, R.A., residing at 19, Woolwich. common,
left Woolwich for the respective seats of war on Sunday,
the former for Prussia and the latter for France, to watch
the course of events and report to the English Govern-
ment.
IMPORTING DISEASE.—During the month of June
there was a startling increase in the number of animals
imported in a state of disease and slaughtered by order
of the Customs at the ports of debarkation. From 20 in
May, the figures have sprunc, up to 203. Of that number
187 came from Cherbourg and were landed at Southamp-
ton ; nine of the animals were sheep and the remainder
were swine. Only three cattle were found to be diseased,
and they came to Hartlepool from Hamburgh.— Chamber
of Agriculture Journal.
ROBBERY AT SIR WILLIAM a LAY7B.—Early on Sun-
day morning a daring robbery was discovered to have been
committed, at the residence of Sir William. Clay, Fulwell
Park, Twickenham, and some property of great value
carried off by the thieves. It is supposed that the thieves
concealed themselves inside the mansion some time during
Saturday evening, for on Sunday morning the front door
was discovered to have been opened from the inside.
Among the property carried off is a Queen
Victoria coronation gold medal, a gold antique finger ring
of great weight, one benegaretti yellow topaz, set
with turquoise and gold filagree work, a valuable minia-
ture portrait of Nell Gwynn with name on the back,
another miniature portrait of a lady, one gold and glass
scent bottle with pearl horse-shoe and the initials H. C.
on it, one double-barrel scent bottle with turquoise flies on
the stoppers, two pure solid gold snuff boxes, two agate
and gold snuff-boxes, two silver gilt ditto, one of which
had Chinese figures upon it, and one mother-of-pearl snuff
box with silver rings.

DUNVILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest holders
of whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is r ommended
by the medical profession in preference to French brand . 'Sup-
plied in casks and cases for home use or exportation. Quotation
on application to Messrs DUNVILLE & Co, Royal Irish Die
tilleries, Belfast ; or at their London Offices, 4, Beaufort Buildings
Strand, W.G.

OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning.

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