ROCK IN PORT HERRADURA,-South America, West Coast.

Mr. Thomas F. Price, commanding the English barque Pembroke Castle, has reported the discovery of a dangerous rock in Port Herradura, (Coquimbo), on the West coast of South America, with only 32 feet water over it, and 5 fathoms close around it, at low water springs. It lies near the northern shore, with a conspicuous round hill in the N.E. corner of the port bearing N.E.b.E., and the inner eastern point of entrance W. N., distant nearly a cable's length.

The Pembroke Castle, when entering the port, only just cleared this rock in picking up a berth, and the ship Knowsly ran on to it and stove her bows in. The directions given to avoid it, are not to bring Herradura Point to the southward of W.b.S., nor the South end of the conspicuous round hill to the eastward of N.E.b.E.,-but as these bearings would place both the point and hill to the southward of their positions on the chart, the mariner is cautioned, that till this danger is further examined, not to come within a cable and a quarter's length of the inner eastern point of entrance of the port when ronuding it. The bearings are magnetic. Variation 15° E. in 1866.

NEW ZEALAND,-North Island.

A rock off Kawau Island, Hauraki Gulf, having 9 feet water on it at low springs, with 5 to 10 fathoms close to, has recently been discovered by the British ship Nelson striking on it-in the passage between the Flat Rock and Kawau Island.

It lies four cables from the shore of Kawau, with the S.E. point of that island bearing S.b. W. W., Flat Rock E. S., Tiritiri Lighthouse S.b.E.E., and Takatau Point N.W.b.N.

Middle Island, Chalky Inlet.

A pinnacle Rock off the South point of Great Island, with 5 feet on it at low water, and 5 to 9 fathoms close around it, has also been found a cable's length southward of the rock marked on the chart off the South point of Great Island.

All bearings are magnetic. Variation at Kawau Island 14° 25′ E. in 1866.

Relighting oF THE CAPE FLORIDA LIGHTHOUSE,-United States of America, Coast of Florida.

Notice has been given by the United States government, that on and after the evening of April 15th, 1866, there will be a light exhibited from Cape Florida Lighthouse, on the South point of Key Biscayne, S.E. point of Florida.

The tower is of brick, 95 feet high from base to focal plane, conical shape, whitewashed, and lantern painted white. The light is a fixed white light, at an elevation of 100 feet above the sea level, and visible

in clear weather eighteen miles. The illuminating apparatus is a lens of the second order. Lat. 25° 39′ 56′′ N., long. 80° 9′ 24′′ West of Greenwich.

WRECK OF THE STEAMER "EUROPEAN,"-Position.

Colon Bay, May 1st, 1866.

The following bearings for the position of the wreck of the iron steamship European, were taken by the harbour-master, (Captain Futhill,) and surveyor (Thomas Harrison, Esq.)

the davits are visible.

Vessels entering the harbour, by bringing Simon Point to bear S. 14° W., will be in line of wreck. A small portion of her bow and all The wreck lies nearly North and stern in 6 fathoms and her bow in 5 buoy is anchored (with a mushooom 3 tons weight) directly over the

stern.

South, head to the South. The fathoms of water. A large red

W. W. KIDDI.E.

ROCKS IN INDIAN REACH,-South America, West Coast of

Patagonia.

Lieutenant B. F. Day, of the United States steam-vessel Tuscarora, has reported the discovery of a group of dangerous rocks, a little westward of mid-channel, and about two miles southward of Eden harbour,

From them the South point of entrance to Eden harbour is N.W.W.; South point of the island, N.W. N.; West point of land at Level Bay, N.b. W. W.; extremity of the rocks at entrance of a small bay on the East side, southward of Eden harbour, N.E. northerly; the most northern of the group of rocks in Indian Reach, seven miles southward of Eden harbour, S.S.E. E. nearly; and the point of land westward of the latter group of rocks S.b.E.E.

At high water, the largest is just awash; the others entirely covered. There is a scanty growth of kelp on them, but not sufficient to be well seen, except at low water. There are no soundings with 25 fathoms at a short distance around them, but 7 and 8 fathoms close to. They are in the route of vessels bound into Eden harbour, and to avoid them a vessel should borrow well on the East shore of the reach.

All bearings are magnetic. Variation 21° 40′ East in 1866.

THE IRON-CASED TURRET SHIP "BELLONA."

Messrs. Laird Brothers have just completed another iron-cased turret ship for the sea-going and coast defences, named the Bellona. She is 1,340 tons, and has engines of 300-horse power by Ravenhill, Hodgson, and Co. She is fully protected by armour plate 44 inches thick, tapering slightly at the ends, is fitted with double screws, and rigged as a barque. The turrets are on the principle of Capt. Cowper Coles, and are the same as those on board her Majesty's ships Scorpion and Wivern, the Huascar, and Minerva, constructed by the same builders. Each turret is covered with 4-inch turret plates except opposite the ports, where it is 7 inches thick. She will carry four 150-pounder Whitworth rifle guns, two in each turret. The Bellona went out for a trial trip on the 22nd of February, being fully completed for sea (except guns, ammunition, and sea stores), and had on board 200 tons of coals, draught of water being about 11 feet mean, speed being 11:33 knots, under the unfavourable circumstances of a stormy day and cross sea. In smooth water no doubt a speed of 12 knots would have been obtained.

The turning and manoeuvring powers were tested, with the following results:-1. In making a circle when both engines were working at full speed ahead; from the action of the rudder alone, the rudder was put over to an angle of 38 degrees by four men in 30 seconds; half circle made in 2 minutes; full circle in 4 minutes; the diameter circle not being more than from 600 to 700 feet. 2. Rudder being put over and one engine stopped, the other continuing at full speed ahead, half a circle being made in 1 minutes 55 seconds; full circle in 4 minutes and 15 seconds; the diameter of the circle not being more than 400 feet. 3. Rudder being put over, and one engine stopped, and reversed at full speed, the other continuing at full speed ahead, half circle made in 2 minutes 5 seconds; full circle in 4 minutes 10 seconds; the diameter of the circle being not more than 200 feet. The vessel appeared to lose her headway immediately, and to swing round on her heel. 4. The rudder being lashed amidships, the vessel being driven ahead at full speed by both engines, one engine stopped and reversed, the other continuing at full speed ahead, half circle made in 3 minutes; full circle in 7 minutes; the diameter of the circle same as in No. 3 trial.

The results of these trials were considered satisfactory. After taking on board about 200 tons of additional coal and stores, the Bellona left Liverpool for her destination, and made the run from Formby lightship to Holyhead, a distance of about 60 nautical miles, in five hours and a half; the captain reporting that, in a strong beam-wind and heavy sea, the vessel had shown herself all that could be desired. After landing her pilot at Holyhead, the Bellona proceeded on her voyage.

Some time ago we noticed the trial of the Minerva, a double screw turret ship of 1000 tons and 140-horse power, built and engined by Messrs. Laird, which obtained a speed, at the measured mile, of 101 NO. 6.-VOL. XXXV.

2 U

knots. We are informed that this vessel made the passage from Liverpool to Rio de Janeiro in thirty days, including all stoppages, which gives a speed of nearly 9 knots per hour; and, although only drawing 8 feet of water, proved herself during the voyage an excellent seaboat under the circumstances. The performance of these vessels at their trials and at sea proves the advantages to be derived from the application of the double screw system to turret ships of light draught of water. Messrs. Laird Brothers have other double screw vessels in hand at the works at Birkenhead, one being an armour-clad turret vessel of more than 2000 tons, especially designed by them for seagoing, with engines of 400-horse power, to carry four 12-ton guns, which, from her speed and heavy armament, will prove a most formidable ship of war.-Liverpool Albion.

THE AMERICAN IRON-CLAD "MONADNOCK."

The following is an extract from a private letter :—

"A great many vessels enter the harbour at Rio, not only merchantmen, but inen-of-war, and lately we have had the American Vanderbilt, Tuscarora, and Monadnock. The latter is a monitor or iron-clad, and as she is the most singular vessel of the kind I have seen, I determined to go and have a good look at her. I went on the 10th of January, and on my arrival I was told they were under sailing orders, and no one could be admitted. I, however, sent my card to the commanding officer, and he was kind enough to allow me not only to go on board, but called an officer to explain matters to me. The hull of the vessel is only 18 inches out of the water. Just above the deck there are some bars and chains to keep it a little private; for were it not for them any one could walk off a common shore boat into her.

"When cleared for action, the bars and chains, the white tops of turrets, the walk with the awning that exists between the turrets, the masts, &c., the boats, and the two ventilators before the funnel are all taken away, and the three hatches are put down. The deck is covered with 3-inch iron plates over 8 inches of wood; the sides are covered with 5-inch iron plates over 36 inches of wood. There are two guns in each turret, weighing 43.000 lbs. each. A full charge of powder is 60 lbs., the second charge is 50 lbs., the third 35 lbs. The guns are 4 feet in diameter, 15 inches bore, and 20 inches thick at the breech. A boy goes in to clean them, but the day I went the boy happened to be out of the way, and so they told me a man went in; and I can only say that inside the guns there looked quite room enough for a man, and to spare.

"The turrets are 10 inches thick, and the total weight of the turret, two guns, and the pilot house is 250 tons. To get air they have four engines to pump air into the vessel, and two to pump it out, and under each of the officers' private cabins, as well as in other places, there is a ventilator in the floor, similar to what you see in a stove, and certainly there appeared to be plenty of air when I was on board. The

1866.] NEW BUILD AND RIG FOR FISHING VESSELS.

331

way light is admitted below through holes about as large as to admit a small cannon ball; but in action these have thick iron covers, and are screwed fast below, so they must then burn candles or lamps. The number of men is 160, and 15 officers.

"The cost of the ship was 1,300,000 dollars, or in English money, at 4s. 4d. each, would be about £281,666. I forgot to mention the shot weighed about 400 lbs., and when fired they can be seen clearly along their whole course, which is very steady, not fast. Supposing they were boarded, they have three ways of clearing the deck:-1st, by firing one of the guns without shot, for the force of the powder is so great that anything on deck would be blown off by it, even if not directed towards the object; 2nd, hand grenades, and they have an instrument for pushing them through the holes I spoke of as those by which they obtain light, and they can place these wherever they like; 3rd, rifles, which of course can be used from inside the turret

two.

"This vessel where it had been hit was indented much in the same way as a cricket ball would indent a deal board; but although apparently so secure, I should not like either to pass any of my life on board or even to go into action with her. At Charlestown one went over a torpedo, and it went down in 15 seconds, and all hands lost but A wave came against the iron door of the hatchway and closed it, squeezing three men to death in falling. They lost another, I believe, from a similar cause before Fort Monroe. After one of them went down they sent down a diving-bell to get the bodies, &c., and they found the torpedo had burst just under the officers' cabin while they were at supper, and I was told they must all have perished instantaneously."

NEW BUILD AND RIG FOR FISHING VESSELS.

The report on the sea fisheries of the kingdom has just been presented to the public by the commissioners, and it is gratifying to find that, in the face of the inroads the cattle disease is making upon our flocks and herds, there is no fear of diminution in our fish supply. But with this point we have not now so much to do as with the vessels by which the supply is maintained. In previous numbers we have described and illustrated the plan of a craft with a triangular keel, which was brought from China in the George the Fourth, East Indiaman, in the year 1839, the designer being Mr. Henry Dempster, formerly pilot, Bombay Harbour, H.E.I.C.S. The plan at that time was not taken up, in consequence, we suppose, of the unique-looking build and rig being so widely different from any other built or rigged sailing vessel. Now, however, we observe that a model with plans and drawings of the very same idea is being exhibited at the South Kensington Museum; and it is suggested that the plan might be usefully adopted for strong, safe, weatherly vessels for sea fisheries. The plan now exhibited differs but slightly from the diagrams we showed; the body of the vessel is built something like a billyboy, fitted with the triangular keel, To the sketch plan exhibited at the Museum is appended the following