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THE BIGGEST CRANES IN THE ᎬᎪᏚᎢ . .
D.CKYARD ACQUISITIONS.
The largest oranes in the East. This is not idle boasting, but is the considered judg. ment of those iu a position to know. The four new cranes erected in His Majesty's Naval Dockyard at Hongkong are the largest in the East. It is not difficult to believe it when one glances at the gigantic structures which loom so distinctly in the landscape and seascape. Certainly no one could look at them without some curiousity being roused, and now that these oranes have been completed and handed over to the naval authorities it is perhaps fitting that some description of them should be given to the public.
Premising, what everybody here knows, that Hongkong Dockyard is being equipped so as to be able to undertake all necessary repairs and overhauling of ships of war, it will be understood that these large and powerful cranes are intended to lift guna, boilers, engines or indeed any part of a ship that may require repair. They will be used for dismantling ships in cases of overhaul. The four cranes-three of twenty tone, and one of fifty tons-sre of the type known as the Fairbairn orane, which is distinguished by the swan neck jib. This formation of jib gives a greater head-clearance more room and greater facility for lifting weights to the maximum height of the crane. To most people the sight of these curved cranes suggests problems of gravity, but mechanics and experience bave proved the wisdom of the innovation, and, while nobody suggests that our naval authorities do not make mistaker, there is sufficient confidence in them to approve
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
answered the tests in a way which affords another testimonial to the valus of this type, and also reflects the highest oredit on the workmanship and supervision which contributed to this successful :esult. The three twenty ton cranes almost doubled their specified speed while each lifted thirty tous and revolved with ease. Not only that but the test was ma le more ex- soting by taking out the gear and lowering the weight of thirty tons by means of the brake alone. This severe trial was performed with admirable results. The fifty ton crane, which | is the same height as the others, but is propor- tionately strengthened at the base, and has a bigger jib and a stronger box section, was also subjected to a very severe test. It lifted seventy. five tous and showed the same proportionate brake strength. The deflection of the jib io lifting this great weight was only five laches, and when the weight was lowered the jib went back to its original position, leaving no perma. nent set. With regard to the twe ty ton cranes there was only a deflection in each of three and three-quarter inches, showing that the jibs bad been properly constructed.
It only remains to be said that the four crades аге credit to the firm of Messrs. Cowans, Sheldon and Company, Limited, of Carlisle who were entrusted with the work. This firm is one of the largest crane builders in the nited Kingdom and their work is to be seen in every large dockyard. Certainly the construction of the cranes in His Majesty's Dockyard at Hongkong provides the company with B testimonial of which they have every reason to be proud, and in view of what is he rd about foreign competition, it must be gratifying to the Briton to see the national reputation being so worthily maintained in this part of the Empire. Remembering too the diffenities imposed by the employment of unskilled Chinese lab ›ur, the
achievement of this undertaking is a compli
ment to the watchfulness, skill and unremitting supervision of Mr. J. G. MacGregor, the superintendent engineer, and his assistant Mr. J. Boyd,
NEW TERRITORY NOTES.
The
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[April 29, 1907.
COMPANIES.
HONGKONG COTTON SPINNING WEAVING AND DYEING CO.
An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders in their company, for the purposs of confirming two resolutions passed at a previous special meeting, was held yesterday. The Hon. Mr. W. J. Gresson presided and the others present were Sir Paul Chater, Me. A. G. Wood (directors), Mesara. P. 8, Jameson (secretary), A. Shaw (manager), T. 8. Forrest, H. Gittens, K. Miller, R. 9. Piercy, Lo Cheung Shui, and Ho Yue Sang.
The Secretary having read the notios calling the meeting.
Mr. FORREST moved the first resolution concerning the change in the articles of association. Mr. PIERCY seconded, and the resolution was confirmed.
On the motion of Mr. MILLER, seconded by Mr. LO CHEʊng Shut, the second resolution was also confirmed
The CHAIRMAN-That is all the business, gentleme ›.
THE TOKYO MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED.
favoured us with a digest of the report of this The Mitsui Busssa Kaishs, agents, have Company, as presented to the forty-seventh ordinary general meeting of sharehold-re. company transacts marine insurance business only.
la every item we have deleted decimals.
The
Profit and loss account, 1905, and former years. The balance in hand on this account at the beginning of the year was Yen 3,650,982; during the year the total disbursements have amounted to Yen 380,530. The Directors recommend the payment of a dividend of three
sbare yen per
or 24 per ceat, out of this account, which will absorb Yeu 180,000 and that the bila .ce of Yen 3,090,158 be carried forward. Working account, 1906. The net premia for the year amount to Yea 1,692,436 against which net claims and losses have been settled aggregating Yea 315,159; the expenses amount to Yen 195,430. There therefore remains a balance of Yen 1,181,893 to which has to be added interest, &o. of Yen 369,568.
Sarplus. The funds in hand in exoms of Capital stand at Yen 4,821,620.
HONGKONG FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.
oa April 27th at the
their selection of the most up to date appliances. Ordinary derrick and travelling cranes need ballast to maintain their equilibrium, but these curved structures have no ballast at all. What gives them their stability is the parti. cularly deep and solid foundations in which they are built. They have each a foundation of 29 feet 6 inches in depth, while they rise to a height with the swan neck curve of 65 feet above the ground level and possess a revol ving radius of 60 feet. The jib, in the con.
The railway progresses slowly owing to the struction of which steel is entirely employed,
raias Bridge building has received a check is made in a box section. In the case of the twenty and, in some cases, the foundations have been Farmers add frogs ton cranes, which have to lift that weight at the damaged by the water. rate of twenty feet per minute, there is also a fast joice however. The former are now busy gear for lifting weights of five tons and under planting the first rice crop. The latter make at the rate of eighty feet per minute. The night hideous. Trees and shrubs of all kinds are now donning their summer robes and, the revolving speed, the speed at the book, is 180 feet per minute. From these figures even the brown hills are slowly changing colour. lay mind can appreciate the facility which these recently planted crops of cane, peanuts and wo
An extraordinary meeting of shareholders in cranes will introduc in all big works of repair. bountiful summer. Officially there is nothing for the purpose of confirming two resolutions suk are looking well. The early rains promise a the Hoogkong Fire Insurance Company, oilled We have already indicated that the cranes are sank in a very deep well, the whole of which is doing. Owing to the Governor going away Mr. sanctioning alterations in the articles of
Messer at Taipo has been called in to tempor-association, was held encased in a cast iron oylinder, consisting of machined plates bolted together and made water-arily fill one of the vacancies. Mr. Ilallifax the Company's offices. The Hoo. Mr. W. J. tight. The whole of the foundation castings Assistant Superintendent of Police is due
Gresson presided, and there were also present are bolted from top to bottom with long to arrive back from leave next month and, it is
Sir Paul Chater, Messrs. G. C. Maxon, F. White expected, he will take up his old appointment at Maitland. A. G. Raymond, H. P bolts, 26 feet long, these holding the máss together. In each instance the whole Taipo. Over the border things have been far (directors), Captain W. E. Clarke, Mours J. crane rests on live rollers, the value and utility just at present, there seems to be an epidemic A. Tarner, Foong Leung Him, and Mr. L. N. from quiet. Robberies have been numerous and. Orange, J. Barton, Ho Took, Hsa Hoi Wao, of which can be appreciated without any great of cattle stealing. Some of the cattle were knowledge of engineering. Live rollers are also placed round the girth of the crane at the ground level, and this combination gives that remarkable revolving speed which distinguishes the Fairbairn type. The snatch block is capable of descending thirty feet below the cope of the wall--it will be remembered that these cranes are built conveniently near the sea wall- and by its means it can reach to any depth in a ship. Moreover the machinery which operates each crane is of the greatest efficiency and embodies the latest improvements. Machinery and gear are sheltered in a steel plate house another fact which indicates the thorough and comprehensive nature of the arrangements connected with the construction of these apparatus. At present the cranes are worked by steam, but they have been supplied with gear to enable them to be worked by electricity, as it is contemplated introducing that motive power in the course of a year or two when the power station is bailt,
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recovered at Yaumati and the thieves arrested.
CHINESE POLYGAMY.
À censor has written a strong protest to the Throne on the question of polygamy.
H. points out that while the castom may have arisen because of the desire of having sons, as things are, this reason is now forgotten.
one wile
Poor people hare more than Mandarins, who ought to give all their time to the welfare of the people, surround themselves with eight or ten wives old men of seventy years of age do the same thing, and so there is confusion and decay overywhere.
More than this the people of the West make a laughing stock of China because of this, and the evils that have followed such a course,
The censor therefore urges that new laws The last test in connection with the cranes should be made and promulgated which should WES carried ont last Thursday. It compel men to have one wife and one only just
atisfactory to record that all have 'as obtaina in the West.—Ti:nirin Times,
is
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Leefe ( secretary).
The SECRETARth aving read the notios con- vening the meeting,
The first resolution was confirmed on the motion of Captain CLARKE, seconded by Mr. BARTON.
•n the motion of Mr. Warts, s:conded by Sir Paul ( HATER, the second resolution was confirmed.
The CHAIRMAN-Thank you for your at- tendance, gentlemon.
CANTON INSURANCE COMPANY.
An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders in the above company, for the purpose of confirming two resolutions passed at
■ previous special meeting, was held on April 27th at the company's offices. The Hon. W. J. Grosson provided, and the others present were Sie Paul Chater, mosura. F. Maitland, G. C. Moxon and `H. P. White (directors), P. C. Potta, Ho Fook, L Cheung Sha Wong Leung Him, W. J. Saunders,” Chan San, and L. N. Lacfe (secretary).
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