The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-12-08
The Now pnblin steam-Paclet ireland.

The Holyhead and Kingstown sea-pas-
sage can now be traversed in two hours
and three quarters. The new mail steamer
Ireland has been constructed by Messrs.
! Laird Brothers, Birkenhead, for the City
of Dublin Steam-Packet Company, which
has also made great improvements in its
other steamers, the Ulster, Munster, Leins
ter, and Connaught, established some
twenty-five years ago The Ireland, is
esteemed the fastest seagoing steamer
| atioat, having attained twenty-one knots
an hour, or between twenty-four and
twenty-five statute miles, in her trial run
across the Channel. The distance in a
straight line from Holyhead to Kingstown
IS tiftysix knots; but, however well a ship
may be steered, it is impossible for her to
keep an absolutely straight course, and the
distance actually traversed must have been
increased accordingly; yet taking no &C
count Of this, and reckoning the distance
at tifty-six knots, we find that the ship
must have maintained an average speed of
2O'2 knots per hour from point to point;
performance which is without parallel in
rough-water steaming. The actual time
was 2h. 46 min. ID sec, with a mean of
6337 indicated horse power, under draught
moderately forced by fans, the mean pres
sure of steam being u H., and the engines
making 27'17 revolutions a minute An
other trip, under natural drapght without
fans, gave an average speed OF 1879 knots,
the whole time being Oh 81 min. As sec
The Ireland was designed, built, and fitted
by Messrs. Laird. She has length over
all of $50 it,, between perpendiculars $50
IT., with IS it., beam, and depth III hold
of 10 tt. 3 in, her tonnage being $3.50 tons
old measurement. She is fitted with Jet
condensing oscillating engines, capable of !
developing 5000-horse power with boilers
working under natural draught, and at |
least 6000-horse power with the boilers
under air pressure in the stokeholes The |
ship is built entirely of Siemens steel, in
order that the greatest strength may be |
secured with the minimum of weight and
is subdivided by steel water-tight bulk |
heads to the upper-deck into eleven COM
partments, one bulkhead between the |
engine-room and each boiler-room, so that
the engines and each set of boilers are in
compartments. In appearance I
the Ireland much resembles the present
having clipper stem with
shield head, and short bowsprit, a light |
ellptlc counter, two raklng masts and two
tunnels, spacious bridge deck amidships,
q long poop aft, and hurricane deck for
ward. The passenger accommodation is
in arrangement the same as in the Com
pany's present steamers as now fitted, with
every comfort, and luxury In the poop
is saloon soft. in length, panelled in
polished hard wood, with state cabins at
each side. On the deck below is the spa
,ious dining -saloon, richly decorated in
gold and colour, with commodious serv-
and pantry. Forward are the
upper and lower ladies' saloons, which are
elegant apartments The saloons have a
height of 10 it. in. from deck to ceiling;
he stairways are roomy and well arranged,
he ventilation and light being all that can
De desired; forward is additional sleeping
accommodation for frst-class, so that in
III there will be accommodation for 200
irstclass passengers. Handsome and con-