Evening star., 1901-11-20
effect viii be greatly to Lessen the surface
The voyage of the ophir.

traffic.
The Voyage of the Ophir.
Some interesting Details of the voyage
of the Ophir have been issued The yes
sci enjoys the proud distinction of being
the first reauisitioned from the ranks OF
the merchant navy for the conveyance to
the remotest parts of the empire of mem
bers of the royal family. No fewer than
81 600 miles, or one and half times the
circumference of the globe were traversed
by the yacht, and this prolonged cruise
she performed without a hitch from start
to finish. She carried out the whole of her
ENGAGEMENTS with a punctuality which rail-
way companies might envy, often with am
pie time to spare. Her ocean speed was
fifteen knots, but on occasion she pro-
ceeded at a rate Of between seventeen and
eighteen knots.
removing the incrustation resulting from
long submersion In salt water. The en-
gines stood the test OF the cruise with sue
cess. there being no single occasion on
in the usual course Of navigation. On her
voyage the vessel consumed a total of a.
200 tons of coal, all OF which, save that
taken on board at st. Vincent, was OBJ
tanned at various ports of the empire. In
elusive of their royal highnesses, and their
suite of some twenty ladies and gentlemen,
the total number of persons on board the
Ophir was not less than $50.
entertainments. Wherever the Imperial
tourists called they had to issue hospit-
able Invitations to the leading people, and
the number of dinners and suppers served
on board the ship was quite formidable
But everything had been carefully studied
out in advance. There were about eighty
servants in the stewards department, a
number not excessive when 1t is remem-
bered that on occasions sixty guests sat
down to the tables. The silver used was
from York House, and the wines were from
the royal cellars. The two greatest func-
tions were the lat homes given at Sgd
ney and Halifax, respectively, the number
Of invitations issued in each case being
about $50.
Economists are reckoning up the cost of
the Duke of Cornwalls tour, and we shall
hear plenty about it when the estimates
come on for discussion. 1t will, in all likeli-
hood, form the subject of a question by a
nationalist member, with an. instinct for
eliciting information. The journeys of his
present majesty, when Prince of Wales,
were conducted on scale quite worthy of
his position, as the heir to the throne. There
is no room to doubt that the Duke Of Corn
wallis present tour has been made in quite
as princeiy a spirit. The Prince of Wales
was in India seventeen weeks and his stay
there cost the nation IL 600 a day.
No less sum than f5O.N0 was spent by
the admiralty on the voyage to India and
back. The Indian government spent t3O,oo0
in his reception, and the generous house of
What the value of his presents to the ma
tive princes might be I am unable to say,
but the gifts Of these princes to him were
at least ten times the value OF his to them.
The total cost of the Prince Of Wales
visit to Canada amounted to 10000, the
bulk of which fell on the colony. The cost
of the Duke of Cornwalfs tour, lasting
about eight months, is estimated to have
cost between f7o0,000 and 100000
Getting Ready for the Coronation.
| Although it wants nearly eight months
before the coronation, some Of the larger
| hotels have already received applications
| for accommodation for that time, and an
| told that the Hotel Cecil has already let al
| Of it's rooms for the coronation period. Ii
| this is true it will be no surprise, seeing
| that this large hotel enjoys many spec1a
| advantages over its rivals. 1t has now
completed it's imposing frontage IN tht
| strand, and the management intends to le
out the front as shops, offices and cham
| bers, reserving for the accommodation o.
visitors the huge main building, which sur
| rounds magnificent quadrangle and Whlci
also overlooks the Thames embankment
| II the hotel is pushed for space during tn
coronation 1t could easily fit up temporary!
| that portion Of it's premises which Is TO o.
| let for business purposes for the accommo
dation Of visitors. AS many of the lat
queens colonial guests were housed at IN
| Cecil during the diamond jubilee. 1t Is ais
| probable that some Of the kings guest
| will next year be entertained at the sam
hotel House agents also are tnundate
/ with applications for houses, flats an
| apartments for next season, which prom
ises to be the most brilliant that Londol
| has seen for many years.
improvements in DestrOyers.
I learn that the British admiralty hav
now taken action as the result OF the re
cent Cobra inquiry, and have revised tn
conditions and specifications under whicl
the torpedo destroyers at present beini
built are to be constructed. The speed !
to be reduced to twenty-seven knots an.
the boats will have coat OF one-lnc
steel and nickel armor alongside the eng1n
| and boiler spaces to the depth OF elgn
inches below the load line. and reaching t
| a level with the deck. The finished boat
will also have transverse bulkheads at DOT
ends of this side belt, and the coaming
will be similarly protected. The plating Q
the decks and hatchways are to be all Q
increased thickness, and the frame or tn
boats will be strengthened to bear tn
strain Of the machinery, which will be re
stricted to safe limit.
Anxiety Over Kings Health.
Although the authoritative statements
the medical press have naturally had n
assuring effect upon the public mind, tn
anxiety concerning the kings health hs
not yet entirely disappeared. Insurance
upon his life until the coronation, Whlc
could be effected at the beginning of tn
: year for five guineas per cent, cannot no
guineas that being the latest price quote
| Of 1ovda IN offer IN he ont DOltCv II