The Sun.
London, England, 1860-06-22 00:00:00

OFFICLIL TRIAL OF 1 FI R CONNAUG.II7I

SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday, June 20.—The new
steamship line, about to be established under con-
tract with her Majesty's Government for the con-
veyance of mails between Galway and America,
was this day favoured by a very satisfactory trial
of the first vessel constructed for the performance
of this service. The Connaught, built by Messrs.
Palmer, Brothers, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and
launched by them on the 21st of April, came round
here on Monday, and ran her measured mile in
Stokes' Bay this afternoon, giving great satisfac-
tion. The Connaught is a paddle steamer, and is the
first of four contracted for with Messrs. Palmer
Brothers and Samuelson, of Hull, two being built
by each firm respectively. She is 3,012 tons
builders' measurement, and 378 ft. in length, and
iron-masted. This fine vessel has every new ap-
pliance of modern steamship construction, and has
eight boilers, heated by forty furnaces, on Beards-
man's and Galloway's patent, with a total heating
surface of 20,000 square feet. Her paddlewheels
are 34 ft. in diameter, with feathering floats, 12 ft.
by 4 ft. 8 in. She draws 17 ft. of water. At 11
a.m. Mr. Wier, the general manager of the Atlantic
Company, together with Capt. Robertson, R.N.,
Surveyor-General of the Marine Department of the
Board of Trade, Capt. Patey, R.N., Admiralty Sur-
veyor, Mr. Murray, superintendent engineer of the
port, Mr. Ruble, superintendent shipwright, and
other gentlemen, went on board, and shortly after
twelve o'clock the first measured mile was run.
Six runs were made with and against tide, and their
average taken. The vessel made an average of
nearly eighteen statute miles an hour, which is an
extraordinary rate of speed for an ocean steamer.
The ship's bottom being foul, from her having
been stationary nearly two months since she was
launched, it is reasonable to suppose that
even greater speed would have been attained
on this occasion had she been docked and cleaned.
On a breeze, and under circumstances generally
favourable, it is expected that the Connaught
will considerably exceed the twenty miles which
the builders promised. One thing which struck
every one on board, and which was the theme of
frequent remark, was her extraordinary freedom
from vibration while the ponderous engines were
in motion. She felt, indeed, like solid masonry
under the feet. This will be a great boon for the
passengers, whose accommodation will be of the
most luxurious description. Without a particle of
finery, the fittings of the Connaught combine ele-
gance with solidity. The proportion of coal con-
sumed at speed will be 91 tons to the 24 hours.
The vessel came round beautifully, and answered
her helm as perfectly as could be desired. The
official visitors appeared to be gratified in every
respect. Looking at the history of these ships, and
the responsibility attached to the manager, Mr.
Wier, according to whose suggestions and under
whose directions they have been constructed, this
trial must have proved extremely gratifying to
that gentleman. The Connaught will coal at
Southampton, and proceed during this week to
Galway, whence she will sail for America on the
26th inst., in accordance with the terms of the con-
tract. By the establishment of this line, among
other advantages, merchants will be enabled to
answer the letters received by them on Monday by
the Cunard steamers the same evening, and despatch
them by the Galway steamers on Tuesday.
It should not be omitted that an excellent band
of musicians belonging to the Connaught were in
attendance, and played a variety of airs during the
latter part of the trip.

This is not the way we manage such matters at
Greenwich. I confess I long for greater variety in these
entertainments—not, of course, for a greater number of
dishes, of varities of fish, at any one banquet—but I wish
there were a larger area for choice, or that I could with
a good conscience assert that during the last twenty years
I had remarked any notable improvements in the methods
of preparing fish. The water zootje, the lobster rissoles,
the Spey trout, the salmon cutlets, and the white-bait pre-
pared in two different ways, are just what they were when
I was a boy. Science, when it is not progressive, recedes.
—Ones a 'risk.
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