On Tueslay, 16th, September, the new screw-steamer Empire, built by Messrs. William Beardmore and Ca. (Limited), Govan, for the Eastern and Australian Steamship Company, London, completed her trials on the Firth of Clyde, and fully implemented the conditions of the contract, This handsome vessel has been specially designed to suit the requirements of the company's important mail and passenger service between Aus tralia, China, and Japan; and although constructed to carry a large cargo, is also intended to. maintain a good speed at sca, with vel superior accommodation for first and second saloon passengers. The general dimensions are:—Length, 400 feet breadth, 46 feet 6 inches; depth, 30 feet 2 inches; and 4,500 gross tonnage; with fa topgallant forecastle, Jong bridge, full poop, and a shade deck amidships. The hull is built of steel to Lloyd's highest lass, under special survey, and completed in accordance with the Board of Trade regulations for passenger steamers. The upper decks and fittings are of teak, and the most modern appliances have "been supplied for the efficient working of the ship and the rapid handling of cargo, including a very complete installation of electric lighting with double dynamos, and a large refrigerating plant with insulated chambers for the carriage of meat, ete., to suit the Eastern trade. Luxurious accommodation has been pro-¥ided before the machinery for the first-class passengers, and as the steamer is intended to trade in tropical climates the exceptionally large state-rooms have been placed on the upper deck, which admits of perfect ventilation, and they are furnished with the most up-to-date improvements for the comfort of the passengers. Above, on the bridge deck, are a spacious ming' saloon and music-room en. suite, and a comfortable smoking-room, all with large square windows which give abund. ance of light; while overhead the shade deck (on which the boats are stowed) forms an admirable shelter from sun and in to the splendid promenade on the bridge deck reserved for the first-class passengers. Very superior accommodation has been supplied in the poop for second-class passengers (which is scarcely inferior to the first). and includes a com-odious dining saloon, capital smoking-room, large state-rooms, bath-rooms, ete., and the tween decks are fitted for European and Chinese emigrants. The machinery consists of a set of triple-expansion engines, having cylinders 283, 47, and 78 inches diameter by 51 inches stroke. with two double-ended boilers for a working pressure of 200 Ibs., and fitted with the most recent improvements for efficiency and economy, including How-Gen's forced draught, ' bronze propeller Blades, ote. Haring been designed with a outwater bow and figurehead, the Empire has a very symmetrical appearance, and is altogether a splendid specimen of a first-class merchant steamship. She has been constructed under the supervision of Captain S. G. Green, the company's marine superintendent at Sydney, and Mr. Laurence Niven, their commodore engineer, and is commanded by Captain W.G. M'Arthur. The results of the trials were most satisfactory, a speed in excess of the contract having been easily maintained; and the company's representatives expressed themselves as highly pleased with the ship and her performance—" Glasgow Herald," 18th Septem-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.