The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-05 00:00:00

IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS IN

THE SCREW-PROPELLER.
No body of men has been more enterprising and
indefatigable than the General Screw Steam-shipping
Company in working out the advantages of the screw-
propeller, and of that body none have been more
happy in their suggestions and adoptions, and
assidious in carrying them out to a successful issue,
than Mr. Laming and Captain Ford, the active mem-
bers of the company above-named, and we may add
that among the most eminent engineers of the Thames,
and we may say of the world, including Miller and
Ravenhill, and Penn and Co., probably no firm has
devoted more time, or spent more money, or have in-
terested themselves in useful, if not profitable experi-
ments, than Maudeslay and Field. With this intro-
duction we may briefly state that, under the auspices
of the company before-mentioned, Messrs. Maudes-
lay have fitted a new kind of screw-propeller to the
Bosphorus, the ship destined to be the precursor of
the regular steam communication between England
and the Cape of Good Hope ; and yesterday the ship,
having been completed, was taken on a trial trip
down the River so far as the measured mile in Long
Reach, several of the parties interested being on
board. The ship has always maintained a good cha-
racter with the old fixed screw, and although there
was no lack of confidence in the success of the new
patent of Maudeslay's, some natural anxiety was
manifested on its account. To the utmost gratifica-
tion, however, of both company and engineers, all
nervousness was dissipated almost at the first starting,
and, at the measured mile, the mean speed of 91
knots, or nearly 10 2.3 statute miles, with an easi-
ness of steering that was very remarkable, esta-
blished most conclusively the triumph of the new
principle.
We have not space to•day to give any detailed ex-
planation, and must confine our report to the state-
ment that this improvement on the old propeller is
termed Maudeslay's patent self-acting feathering
screw, which of itself assumes such a position that,
when the vessel is under canvass only, the least pos-
sible amount of impediment is offered to its being
drawn easily through the water ; and when the ship
is under steam power, it again takes spontaneously,
on the engine being put into motion, the right angle
for propelling.
In fact, to all intents and purposes, in form and
reality, with this new screw the vessel is, at the will
of the navigator, either the perfect sailing ship or
the auxialiary steam-ship; for the screw is so fitted
that, when not required to propel the ship, it may be
said to form a portion of the lines of the after portion
of it. The important advantages of this new plan of
screw are almost self•evident, and when it is stated
that it is constructed in component parts, the im-
proved facilities it affords for stowing or repairing
will at once be seen and acknowledged, and, we
venture to predict, will be generally adopted in all
services in preference to those at present in use.—
Herald.

REGENT'S CANAL.—The half-yearly general meet-
ing of the shareholders of this company was held yesterday,
at the offices, City-road, the Marquis of Salisbury in the
chair. The report stated that during the last six months
the traffic of the canal had progressed favourably, the instal-
ments on the new shares had been well paid up, the profits
of the half-year had been 13,4991., allowing a dividend of Ils.
6d. per share on the old and newly-created shares, and
leaving a balance of 1201. for the next half-year. The ex-
cavation for the enlargement of the company's dock at
Limehouse was going on under a contract of 2,75 W. The
necessary preliminaries had been observed in order to apply
to Parliament for power to extend the new reservoir in the
Valley of the Brent. The report was adopted against only
two dissentient voices.

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.--A collision took
place at Birmingham on Tuesday afternoon. The South
Staffordshire train from Walsall, due at 4.30 in Birmingham,
approached Vauxhall at its appointed time, but owing to a
coke train " shunting" over the main line a collision took
place. The fireman jumped from the engine, but came in
contact with the next carriage and was killed instantly.
Several persons were slightly injured.
Richard Lalor Shell and his lady were The Right non.
passongers in the train,
but *soaped umiujurag.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION.

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Yesterday a very respectably and numerouslifP:, *cir,. c
tended meeting was held in the rooms of the me'-t-1,-tZI '4
bury Association at which many ladies were ,oht.'--,z, .
The chair on the occasion was taken by .--......- ,r A
. it
L,-.) 7:-:::il Y.--- t•i',,„,
Captain SIMEON, who, in opening the proceimi ,y-t.,..*,,^410ivi ;.)
reminded his auditors of the distinction betweeT-.4" ''‘`A.,aVs.7l PI
el nization and emigration, and that the Cant
Ili
settlers went out as colonists, not as squatters) 1.4
went to form a daguerreotype miniature of Eni an•
complete in every respect in religious princip
educe& - . - ..

.:cation, and in all social influences; and only in-
complete in the reproduction of those vices which,
most unfortunately, crept into an old country, and
that pressure from without which fell so heavily
upon all classes of society here, from the highest
to the lowest. To carry out such a scheme as
theirs it was necessary that they should become ac-
quainted with each other while in England, and on this
account it gave him the greatest pleasure to see ladies
present, because it proved the superiority of the new
society which they sought to form. At the meetings
to promote other emigration schemes men only were
present, but their colonists regarded their wives as
more than their better part, and as giving the whole
colour to their domestic enjoyment. The main point
which he had to submit to their consideration, then,
was twofold—the development of a scheme for taking
out the commencement of the main body of colonists,
to sail on the Ist of June, 1851.—(Hear, hear.) With
that body he trusted would go those who would take
the highest position in the colony, and the second
highest position in the Colonial Church. This pro-
posal would not prevent other ships sailing at different
times, so that colonists, when they went, would find
there people to work for them at prices which were
not ruinous. The second object which they were
met to consider was with reference to an addition to
the privileges conferred on purchasers, in allowing
those whose land had been purchased by the agents,
and who were not pleased with the purchase, to be
enabled, under certain stipulated agreements, to ex-
change their land, or sell it, or add to it by a re-pur-
chase in the colony.—(Hear, hear.) Captain Simeon
concluded by introducing to the meeting
Dr. ROWLEY, Dean, and head of the Chapter of the
new Diocese of Canterbury, who also congratulated
the association on the presence of so many ladies. If
they could make their settlement an abode for highly-
educated and right-minded women, it would do for
men—for husbands, fathers, brothers, and lovers.—
(Hear, hear.) They had sent out seven ships, with
the one now sailing, but hoped that before 1851 ex-
pired the labours of the association would be re-
warded by seeing many more ships sent out.—
(Hear, hear.) Something must be done to provide for
the large departure of colonists which was expected to
take place next summer. (The Rev. Doctor here
proceeded to read a lengthened correspondence which
had passed between Captain Simeon, on behalf of the
council of the society of Canterbury colonists, and
Mr. Alston on behalf of the committee of manage-
ment of the Canterbury Association. The purport of
these documents is embodied in the following resolu-
tion of the joint committees :
"That the measures of both parties shall be so framed
as to promote and facilitate the proposed simultaneous
departure of a large body of colonists in the first week of
June, 1851. In the meanwhile every purchaser of land,
intrusting the selection thereof to the Association, will
be entitled, on reaching the settlement either before or
along with the main body emigrating in June next, to
exchange the land so selected on his behalf for other
land to be selected by himself, or, if he should prefer it,
to keep or sell such land, and, in any case, to purchase,
by paying for it in the settlement, a second quantity of
land equal to the first, with the same privileges of pas-
turage and prior right of purchase as by the present
terms of purchase are secured to all buyers in proportion
to their freehold purchases, It is to be understood that
the rights of transfer and nomination secured to pur-
chasers by the present terms of purchase will be in no
degree diminished with regard to exchanges or second
purchases in the manner above set forth.")
The Rev. Doctor then proceeded to say, that the
question had been raised, whether the Canterbury
Church had been made.for the colony, or the colony
for the Church. He said that they were made for
each other. If there were no colony the Church
would be nothing, and without the Church the colony
would lose its distinctive character, and only re-
semble those headless, heartless communities, which
were a disgrace to the country, and were of no good
to themselves, either in time or in eternity.—(Hear.)
All their efforts would be in vain unless they sought
for unity. They must cultivate those good tempers
which belenged to men who were really in heart and
life members of the Church.—(Hear.) They must
be kindly affectioned one to another in brotherly love,
and they must get rid of that hot and fiery disposi-
tion which the right of private judgment, carried to
such a length in this country, produced.—(Hear.)
Lord LYTTELTON expressed his confident hope that
in all respects, civil, ecclesiastical, and social, in which
they desired that the association should be an improve-
ment and a model, _every one of the principles laid
down by them would be carried out. It was his con-
viction that the idea of the colonists going out in
large bodies was one of the highest value, and ought
Ito be encouraged. He hoped that the contemplated
departure of a fleet in June would prove but the first
of a long succession of swarms from the native hive.

—(l.lear, hear.) Alluding to the Church organization
of the Canterbury Settlement, he said, that the asso-
ciation thought it might venture to take upon itself
to fill up such vacancies in the Church there as might
seem practicable, and to send persons out at once with
the recommendation that their appointments should
be ratified there by the proper authorities. A 3 to the
question of local self-government, it was not less a
subject of anxious consideration with them now than
it was some months ago. It would be their business,
and his in particular, to press that subject on the at-
tention of the Colonial Secretary and the government
as early as possible, and he could not but believe that
they had improved hopes on the subject.—(Hear,
hear.) He anticipated that they would be able to
show an amount of progress made by the colony to
entitle them to a representative constitution as a dis-
tinct province.—(Hear, hear.)
The Rev. C. WYNTEN read the draught of a dis-
patch addressed to Bishop Selwyn, putting him in
possession of the ecclesiastical arrangements of the
colony contemplated by the association.
Mr. ADDERLEY read extracts from two letters
which he had recently received from New Zealand,
and which he believed would be interesting to the
meeting. One was from Bishop Selwyn, who said
that he was preparing a plan of Church government,
by which he hoped to be released from the position of
a Church despot, a position which was as contrary to
his inclinations as to his principles. The Hon. Mem-
ber then proceeded to pass a warm eulogium upon the
character of Mr. Godley, and to explain his views
upon the subject of colonization. He held in his hand
a letter from him to his mother, in which be stated,
on the authority of the best Australian and New
Zealand journals, that his opinions " had touched *
chord in the better class of colonists." Mr. Adderley
then proceeded to declare the deep personal inte-
rest which he took in the welfare of the settlement.

Had he not been fixed in England by ties which he
could not break, he would have had no hesitation him-
self in embarking in the enterprise. Many of the
labouring class in his county, Warwick, were now
taking a deep interest in the subject, and some had
already gone out. In conclusion he could only express
his hearty hopes and wishes for the success of the
Canterbury Settlement.—(Hear, hear.)
Dr. ROWLEY then proposed the following resolu-
tion :

" That the arrangements made for the simultaneous
departure of a large body of colonists in June, 1851,
give entire satisfaction to this meeting, and appear cal-
culated to insure the comfort and prosperity of those
who will form the expedition."
The resolution having been seconded was unani-
mously agreed to.
A letter was then read, announcing that the route
from Nelson to Canterbury was now open for cattlo,
after which a vote of thanks having been passed to
Captain Simeon for his conduct in the chair, the pro-
ceedings terminated.

SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW.—This popular
exhibition will offer increased attraction for vistors this year
The entries of stock very far exceed any previously made in
former years, in consequence of which the committee of
the Smithfield Club have required the proprietor of the
Bazaar to provide the necessary accommodation for nearly
fifty more than the usual number of oxen, and a correspond-
ing enlargement of the•space occupied by sheep and pigs.
The extent of the Bazaar premises has enabled this to be
done without interfering with the convenient arrangement of
the animals, while the extension will give greater facilities
to the increased number of visitors who may fairly be ex-
pected to view the exhibition. The list of exhibitors in tho
cattle classes is again headed by his Royal Highness Prince
Albert, the Duke of Rutland, the Earl Spencer, the Earl of
Leicester, the Earl of Hardwicke, and several other noble-
men entering the lists as competitors. The Duke of Riph-
mend and Mr. Jonas Webb will contribute several pens of
sheep, and Mr. Fisher Hobbs and the Earl of Radnor will
again contend for priority of excellence in the porcine tribe.
In addition to the increased space to be occupied by animals
the agricultural implement galleries have also been greatly
enlarged, iu order to afford room for the many new and im-
proved machines lately introduced to facilitate the science
of husbandry. The committee of the club will meet on
Monday next to award the prizes. The exhibition will be
thrown open to the public on Tuesday morning, and finally
close on the following Friday.
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF A PRISONER FROM COLD•
BATH-FIELDS Paisox.—Yesterdsiy morning a daring attempt
to escape from this prison was made. It appears that it is
customary to allow the prisoners to go into the yards for a
short time after rising for the purpose of exercising, and
during this period a prisoner, sentenced to a long terns, con•
trived unobserved to leave the general muster, and go back
to the dormitory, from Which by great stratagem he cli►tibed
to the circular windows, and having got out of one, he
scrambled to the roof, making his way to another dormittwys
to reach which he was compelled to leap. After which lie
passed along other roofs, but finally fell a distance of abo.ut
20 feet on to the top of some workshops in the yard, and how
he escaped without loss of life is almost a miracle. By thi I
time he was missed from his place,. and a search being me.de,
he was discovered near to thr spot on which he had fallen.
He was taken back with, we belh sve, some injuries, art.t NI ill,
t no doubt, be closely watched for the future.

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