The U.S. Revenue cruiser Negros, one of the ten being bult for the U.S Phi pive Government ly M-ssrs. S. Farnham, Biyd & Ca., Limited, went on her official nial trip on Monday, Captain Manx, U.S.N., Superintendent of the Coast-gnard and Transport Service, and Cuptain "Struive, Superintendent" of Construction, repreventel the United Stites Government, while M-s-s, Groundwater and Johnston represented—the builders The Negros left the moorings ut the Pootung works at 8.35 a.m. on an ebb tide, passing the International Dock measured distance at the rate of 14.02 knots per hour, At 9.20 she passed the Signal Station, where she encountered the foo tide and atrong head wind, and pissed the Tungsha Lightship at 0.55 p.m. At Tungsha Lightship the vessel was put about on her return journey, when a satisfactory demonstration of her helm power was given. On her return journey the steamer We Kiutow Lightship in 614 minutes (0 istence of 11 knots from Tungsha Lightship), equal to a speed of 10.74 knots per vas put down ut 11.87 knots, allowing for a hours but the actual speed of the steamer
contrary current of 0.83 which the ship had t" conted agains'. 'The result was considerer highly satisfactory, as the builders' guaranteed speed only'culle1 for 1) knots.
The usual ceremony of fiking over the being duly performed, the bulllers drank success t> the Negros, which toast was suitably responded to' by Captain ix, who paid a high compliment to the builders for the most satisfactory results obtained.
The trial trip w most exhaustive; a distance of 95 ku od before ide the Pon-the whole most satisfactorily.
The Negros is a composite-builb steamer of the following dimensions: length 148 feet, breadth 25 feet, depth LI feet 9 inches. Sh-has a straight sten and ound stern, and is schooner rigged, with two masts of Ocegon pine. A deck-house is fitted on the main dec covering engine and boiler space, extending forward and aft t certain officers rooms, slate room, saloon, ote, Thy deck on top of the house is carried out to the ship's side at the forward end to form a bridge, on which is erectd a wheel-house and a house for the Captain, The crew's quarters are fitted up in the "tween decks, forward of the boiler bulkhead, the bunks being mide of iron ro's having laced canvas bottoms. Forward of the crew's space is the carg> holl, with an iron hatch on deck. 'The fore peak is titted up as a chain locker below and a paint store above. 'The after-hold is fitted up for receiving ergo a hate' being fitted at the after end, and one in the centre throught the "deck-house, Ship's stores "rooms are fitted in ths after hold, aft of the engine room, with access to' same through the deck-house. An ice-chest and cold-storage room is fitted up in the hold, well insulated with ground charcoal. The
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