Merchants' 8. N..Co.'s new Kianghsin was launched at Messrs Farnham, Boyd and Co.'s Pootung works on Tuesday afternoon, and in of the miserable, cold weather, well over one hundred people—inclading many Iadies—made the journey across river to witness the ceremony. The time of the launching was fixed for 115 p.m., but it was well after two o'clock before everything was ready for releasing the vessel from the ways. At last the signal was given, and Miss Evelyn Weir bad the bottle of champagne in hand ready to baptist the new steamer. The i was evidently © passive resist ter, for she refused to move at first. Then she slowly glided a foot, and again refused to budge. The screw-jacks were manipulated with and coolies were told off to pull and push, but still the vessel lingered. Then the tug Fublee was pressed into service, but before she could lend a helping hand she managed torn ashore. At$ p.m. with the aid of ropes, the Kisngbsin moved a little further down the ways, and Miss Weir ceremony, ich an adjournment gracefully performed the christening
was made to the office buildings, wh: champagne snd light refreshments were of. In the meant tug-boa of Messrs. Hopkins, Dunn & Co.'s fleet had been requisitioned, and at 3.40 p.m. the Kianghsin glided into the water.
After the Isunch was complete, over the cakes and wine Mr. von Rucker
and the patience they had exhibited. thanked the guests for their attendance He said that the new vessel was of the pest workmanship and hoped that it would be a success and benefit to its owners, He thanked Miss Weir for the part she had taken in the ceremony, and presented her with a bouquet of flowers, together with a gold brooch and a chain as 9 memento of the occasion. In conclusion, he asked all to join him in drinking success to the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Com lo Me, Chun Fai-ting replied on behalf of the China Merchants' Company and said that his directors were quite satisfied with the work done by Messrs. Farnhai Boyd and Ca. and he hoped that the latter firm would be favoured with many more orders from the Company.
'Mr. 8. Groundwater thanked Mr. Chup Fai-ting for his kind remarks and added that he hoped his firm would build many more steamers, not only for the China Merchants' Company, but for all the local shipping Companies. He thanked Miss Weir for so gracefully performing the christening ceremony and hoped she might long be spared to act in the same capacity on many future occasions.
Mir. f. Weir commented on the oxcellent workmanship in the construction of the vessel. He said he had seen many steamers built at home, but never had he seen one more carefully constructed—even in Scotland.
The proceedings closed with three cheers pr for Mr. J. Grant Mackenzie, superintendent of the Pootung Works—" the man who had the most anxious time during the afternoon."
'The Kianghsin is a steel twin-serow steamer, built for the China Merchants' Steam Navigation Ca., to the design and under the supervision of Mr. 'T. Weir, the Company's Marine Superintendent. 'The hull is of steel, and is specially designed for trading on the Lower Yangtze of the following dimensions:—Longth over all, 335'-0"; length between porpenticulars, 326'-0"; breadth oxtromo, 56'-0"; breadth' moulded, 44-0"; depth to upper deck, 24'.0"; depth to main deck, 14'-6".
The propelling machinery consists of two sets of triple expansion, vertical, direct-acting surface-condensing engines, having cylinders 19', 31}" and 52" in diameter by 33" stroke, supplied with steam by three single-ended Joylindrical boilers 14" in diameter by The Kianghsin is rigged with two light pole masts and presents a graceful appearance from the outside, notwithstanding the peculiarity of design and her towering height above water.
Each of the three great local steamship companies has built a large steamer recently for its Shanghai-Hankow line; one was built on the Clyde, the other built in Hongkong, but the China Merchants deserve great credit for entrusting our local firm of engineers and shipbuilders with their steamer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.