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completed at Pembroke Dockyard early in 1907-8. These four ships are sister vessels to the Duke of Edinburgh ad Black Prince, except that four 50-calibre 7.5-inch guns are carried in single turrets on the upper deck, in lieu of the ten 6-inch guns in battery on the main deck in the first two ships of the class.

Two of the armoured cruisers of the Minotaur class have been launched during the year, the Minotaur at Devonport and Shannon at Chatham, and are now being prepared for their trials. The third ship of the class, Defence, will be launched at Pembroke in April.

The three large armoured cruisers Inflexible, Indomitable, and Invincible were laid down in February, March and April, 1906, respectively, and have made good progres; being nearly ready for launching.

Unarmoured Cruiser.

A design of a fast unarmoured cruiser has been prepared, and the ship will be laid down at Pembroke early in the next financial year. In this design special attention has been given to her capabilities for accompanying destroyers and acting as a parent ship in addition to carrying out the peace duties of a light cruiser.

Destroyers and Torpedo Boats.

Four First Class torpedo boats (called coastal destroyers in last year's statement) have been delivered. It is expected that three more will be delivered before the end of the financial year.

The remaining five of these vessels are well advanced, and will probably be delivered during the next few months.

Eighteen designs (including alternatives) for the twelve First Class torpedo boats and two ocean-going destroyers provided for in the current Navy Estimates have been examined and orders provisionally placed.

Other Vessels.

The building of His Majesty's Yacht Alexandra has been advanced, and she will be completed during next financial year.

The fitting out of the Fleet repair ship Cyclops will be completed early in the next financial year.

One steam hopper dredger barge for Devonport, three 100-ton water lighters for Home Ports, three 50-ton Naval Ordnance barges, one 1,000-ton coal depot, and four 250-ton coaling lighters have been completed. Fifteen horse boats, one steam mooring lighter and tug for Devonport, and one mooring lighter for Sheerness will be completed by the end of March, 1907, or soon after.

One paddle tug for Gibraltar and six 20-ton ammunition barges now being built will be completed during 1907-8.

Submarines.

The last vessels of the B. class, ordered in 1904-5, have been completed and delivered, and are now on active service.

Four of the eleven C. class boats, ordered in 1905-6, have been completed and delivered, and it is anticipated that four more will be completed by 31st March next.

Five more boats of the C. class have been ordered, and these boats will be well advanced by 31st March next; two boats of the same class have been laid down at Chatham.

General.

The arrangements on board H.M. ships for cooking, bread-making, sanitation, ventilation, warming, washing, lighting, dealing with wounded, coaling, working torpedo net defence, etc., have been improved and extended during the past financial year, and workshops, with the necessary machine tools, for armourers and electricians have been provided in many ships.

MACHINERY AND BOILERS.

Four of the older First Class torpedo boats have been re-boilered with water-tube boilers in lieu of the locomotive type originally fitted, and have successfully carried out their trials.

In all the vessels at present under construction, with the single exception of the Warrior, which will shortly be finished, complete installations of water-tube boilers have been fitted.

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Large tube boilers of the "Babcock and Wilcox or Yarrow type have been fitted in battleships and First Class cruisers, and various types of small tube boilers are being fitted in destroyers.

Reserve sets of auxiliary machinery have been purchased during this year following the practice of previous years; by the provision of these engines, etc., it is anticipated that the time taken to replace breakdowns to these small but important engines will be much reduced, as the stock is now practically complete, and is typical for the various classes of ships.

The present capacity of electric-generating machinery of the older classes of ships is gradually being extended in order to cope with the larger application of electric motors and other appliances; the installation of this machinery in vessels under construction is also being increased consquent on the larger number of auxiliary engines, fans, and motors not being driven by electrical power.

Turbine Propelling Machinery.

During the present financial year several vessels fitted with this type of propelling machinery have successfully completed their contract trials.

The largest vessel completed during the present year, the Dreadnought, is fitted with turbine propelling machinery. This vessel completed her contract trials without a hitch, the trials being highly satisfactory.

On the higher powers the turbine engines proved much more economical than reciprocating engines, and, although more uneconomical at low powers, an advantage of turbine engines is also the lesser boiler power required; in the case of the Dreadnought it would have been necessary to provide one-sixth more boiler power had the vessel been fitted with reciprocating engines.

It may be remarked that the turbine installation in this vessel is the highest power yet completed in any vessel, either naval or mercantile.

The results obtained in the Dreadnought and in the other turbine-propelled vessels which have been completed this year fully justify the adoption of this type of propelling machinery for H.M. ships, and this policy is being continued in all war vessels of this year's programme.

Repair Ships.

The Assistance has been thoroughly overhauled and repaired since grounding, and the Cyclops, a ship now being fitted up, will shortly be in full commission. They are fitted in a very complete manner and are capable of executing repairs of considerable magnitude to any vessel, besides which they are fitted to act as distilling

vessels. Steps are also being taken by the purchase and fitting of workshop machines and appliances to convert the Aquarius, at present a distilling vessel, into a repair ship.

Ice-making Machinery.

Improved installations of ice-making and cold-storage machinery have been fitted in all the more recent vessels.

WORK AT THE DOCKYARDS.

Two submarine boats have been begun at Chatham Dockyard, but as these are the first vessels of the class to be constructed in H.M. Dockyards, rapid progress is not arranged for.

Satisfactory progress is being made with the work of refitting ships provided for under the heading of "Large Repairs," and, notwithstandng the fact that several important and unexpected items under this heading have had to be undertaken, it is anticipated that the original programme will be approximately realised.

Owing to the nature of the programme requirements, it was found necessary, during the early part of the financial year 1906-7, to dispense with the services of some of the workmen employed at Chatham and Pembroke, so as to preserve a proper working balance between the men of different trades. Since that time, however, no important discharges on reduction have taken place, but minor adjustments in the numbers of the various trades have been, and are being, effected in accordance with the demand of the work in hand and in prospect.

As indicated in the "Memorandum explanatory of recent and forthcoming changes in the administration of His Majesty's Dockyards in the United Kingdom," published on the 1st August last (Cd. 2861), the question of the adequacy of the pay of the various classes of workmen in His Majesty's Dockyards has been carefully reviewed. It was decided to grant various concessions both as regards conditions of service and remuneration, which will entail an estimated ultimate additional liability of 60,0007. per annum.

The work of installing electric light and power in the Dockyards and other Naval Establishments is approaching completion. The new generating stations at Portsmouth, Devonport, Pembroke, and Chatham Dockyards are now is active operation, and are supplying current for general use, while connections to the supply system are being made as the various works are completed.

The installations at Gibraltar and the Cape of Good Hope are running, but extension work in connection therewith is in hand at each Yard, and an extension is also in progress at Pembroke.

The generating station at Sheerness, which was held in abeyance for some time, is now under construction, whilst that at Malta is practically complete. Work in connection with the station at Hong Kong is in hand, and steps are being taken to provide the necessary machinery.

The replacement of obsolete machinery in the Yard workshops which has been in progress for the last three years is now nearly complete, and the shops generally are now considered to be practically up-to-date. Replacements and conversion of the lifting and hauling appliances of the Yards are also in progress.

LARGE REPAIRS.

The following is a list of the principal works under this heading which have been, or will be, completed during the financial year 1906-7 :

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Aquarius.

The details of the repairs and refits proposed to be carried out in 1907-8 will, as usual, appear in the programme portion of the Navy Estimates. The most important items are given below:

Battleships :

Canopus.

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Auxiliaries:

Hecla.

Leander.

Tyne.
Vulcan.

NEW WORKS.

Works Provided in Estimates 1906-7.

Cape of Good Hope.-The accommodation for Police has been completed. The Hospital and Sanatorium will be finished by the end of the year.

Chatham. The improvement and extension of the Dockyard Water Supply, and the conversion of Melville Hospital into Marine Barracks, are practically completed. The residence for the Commander-in-Chief has been completed, and is in occupation. Progress is being made with the reconstruction of the side walls of Upnor entrance. It has been decided to defer the River Training Works at Hoo Ness.

Deal. The new canteen at the East Barracks is practically complete.

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Gibraltar.-The additional accommodation at the Hospital, and the extension of the jetty at Rosia Bay (Victualling Yard), will be finished in 1907-8.

Greenwich Royal Naval College.-Progress is being made with the renewal of roofs of the main blocks of this building, which is rented from Greenwich Hospital.

Hong Kong.-The torpedo range will be completed in 1907-8.

Malta.-The renewal of the wharf walls in French Creek, and the new buildings connected with the hydraulic dock, are practically complete. The scheme for the renewal of the wharf walls in Dockyard Creek has been reduced, and the work will be finished in 1906-7. The reservoir at Luca, torpedo stores at Calcara Creek, and the torpedo range will, it is anticipated, be completed in 1907-8.

Plymouth. The railways, North and South Yards, the new buoy house and the new machine shop, South Yard, will be finished in 1906-7. The new jetty and railways, South Yard, the renewal and strengthening of the girders and stanchions for traveller, North Yard, and the widening of the drill shed at the Royal Naval Barracks will be completed in 1907-8. The improvements and alterations, and the wards for lunatics and prisoners at the Royal Naval Hospital, are finished.

Portland. The repairs to the head of the breakwater are being proceeded with as necessary. The berthing for torpedo boat destroyers is practically finished, and the reconstruction of the inner arm of Camber jetty will be completed within the financial year.

Portsmouth. The lengthening of No. 5 Dock is practically completed; the quarters for Sub-lieutenants at Whale Island are occupied. The reconstruction of the entrance to No. 3 Dock, the extension of the chemical laboratory, and the alteration to the Dockyard boundary will be finished in 1906-7. The new steam factory, the improvement of shipbuilding facilities, and the office extension at Whale İsland are nearing completion, and will be finished in 1907-8. The extension of the Mol! Loft floor, the lengthening of No. 15 Dock, the reconstruction of six flats and two staircases at Haslar Hospital, and the additional class rooms and libraries at the Britannia, Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, will also, it is anticipated, be com pleted in 1907-8. The scheme for the new lock is now being considered, and the work will be begun in the ensuing financial year.

Woolwich.-The additional railway facilities, protection against abnormal tides, and quarters at Plumstead are being proceeded with by the War Department.

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