The three-masted steel screw steamer Trene, a vessel of 826 tons resister, which arrived here last week, has a contrivance upon her deck which presents a peculiar appearance. The vessel, which is kept as neat and clean as a yacht, was built Inst year by Mesers, Napier, Shanks and Bell of Yoker near Glasgow for Messrs. J. Whittall & Ca., London, The object in view in designing this steamer was to provide lift carried on board, 'y weights up to 60 tons, such as bullers, machinery, guns, etc., from a wharf or lighter alongside and' placing them in the vessel's hold. Work of this character involved of course, an unusual breadth of beam. hence, while the length of the Irene between perpendiculars 219ft. the breadth is 40f. the depth uulded to main deck 14' 6" anc to deck 21'9". The vessel is classed at Li 100. Al special survey with awning deck." She has cellular double bottom with provision for water ballast in the fore peak, The tank bottom is sub-divided so that no section contains more than 100 The tanks can be filled on the side to the load on the sheers, so as to he heel" or inclination of the these tanks are filled emptied; pendently of each other by an efficient system of piping, To lessen the draught, the keel is of flat plate construction. She has three hatchways which are all forward of the main mast and are of unusually large size suitable for the reception of large articles; and are fitted with shifting beams to jive the necessary strength when loa general arrangements of the vessel include accommodation aft for two first class passengers, while the tween deck is fitted with removable berths for 250 third class or emigrant passengers, but there is accummodation for 403, if necessary. Every consideration has been given to the equipment ao us to render the vessel in all respects complete and thoroughly efficient for the service.
The special feature of the ship, however, is her 60 tons sheors, designed and supplied by the patentees, Messrs, George Russell Ca., of Motherwell, The front legs are 45 feet long by 20 inches in diameter in the middle, and built of steel plates with inside straps.
The top and bottom s-okets are of cast iron. The back leg is of box section and constructed of steel plates and angles, fitted with guide frames and steel rollers, with forged wrought iron guide bars, machine planed, The main. screw, which the vut-hang of the sheer k obtained, is of best forged steel, worl in n-metal nut," attached lo of the back lo; with cast turn and fitted of & special quality and mak double the working strain. The blocks are four-purchase, having pulleys 28 inches and 42 inches india meter, bashed with brass. The engines fur working the sheers have two cylinders, 7" in diameter by 11" stroke, with improved reversing and multiply gear, steam regulator, and all furnish complete, Steam is supplied by a vertical ated boiler 8 feet 6 inches by 4, feet working at 76-Ib. pressure. The sheers were test ith the full load of 60 tons and in lifting, traversing and case of handling yave every satisfaction. back or square leg is on the port side. It is hollow and contains a gigantic screw which being turned by machinery will allow the sheer legs—which when inboard are 35 degrees plunb,—to extend fifteen feet over the starboard side clear of the. With the water ballast side opposite we 48" by 30" number, and 17 feot in diameter by 10 feet long, work at 160 Ib. steam pressure. Th vessel, it may be added, was built under the supervision of Captain A. R. Brown, Japanese consul, Glasgow, and has fulfilled all that had been intended as regards carrying capacity and speed, the latter being fully 10 knots on the trial.
The vessel has made several sea voyages and the captain repor's that she a very fine sea boat, the sheer legs rather enhaucing her good qualities than otherwise.
There are four watertight bulkheads up to the main deck which is steel and of superior strength, the beams being much closer together than in ordinary cases.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.