The s.8, Meian, built by S. C. Farnham, Limited, at the International Dock, to the order of the Standard Oil Ca. of New York, went on her official trial yesterday afternoon, She is a steamer of the following dimensions:—Length 236 ft, beam 35 fty depth 12 ft. 6 in., register tonnage 532 tons, and is designed to suit the growing requirements of the owners' trade on the Yangtze. She will carry 20,000 cases of kerasins oil on a drate of ft. 6 in. From the nature of the cargo which has to be carried, the hull, deck and houses are all constructed of mild steel, the hull being divided into five watertight compartments by transverse bulkheads, and a cofferdam separates the boiler room from the fore hold. There are houses on main deck for the officers and engineers, with a well-furnish. ed dining saloon; while on the bridge deck is the captain's cabin and wheel-house, the latter containing a steam steering engine. There is also " steam windlass fitted on the main deck forward.
AtL50 p.m. the pany, including Messrs, R. Hunt and H. Read. of the Standard Oil Ca, Captain J. P. Roberts, who has superintended the work during construction on behalf of the owners, and Mr. D. Cranston representing the builders, went on boar'. Moorings were slipped from the Intervational Dock, and she was headed down river to put her machinery to the test. The engines are of the triple type, having three cranks and being fitted with leaser cxpsble of developing 500 indicated horsepower at 135 revolu: tions. There is on- large cylindrical retan tube bailer constructed of steel (Siemens-Martin), for " working pressure of 165 lbs. per square inch; the auxiliary machine: eludes evyines and f.n for forced deauzht, centrifugal pomp for circulating water through condenser, Duplex pumps, etc.
On arrival at No. 8 buoy, Woosung, course was steered towards West Spi buoy. On the machinery being put to the full' power test over the distance, both with and against tide, it was found by patent laz and observations taken that a mean speed of nearly nine knots had been attained, which was highly satisfactory considering the light trim of vessel. Everything worked splendidly from beginning to finish, On completion of the speed trial the party adjourned to the saloon, where Mr. Cranston in a few words proposed success the Meian, coupled with the name of Mr. Hunt, who replied in complimentary terms, The Meian is intended to run between this port and Hankow, and owing to her light draft she will be able to reach the latter port when the river is at its lowest. Captain Macdonnell is in command of the el and Mr. J. Logan is in charge of the engine department.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.