30' 



E X c u n S I O N 8 



VISIT TO THE DOCKS, SHIPYARD, AND LONSDALE 

 IRONWORKS. 



The j)arty who preferred this excursion were met at the docks by Mr. 

 Williams, the resident engineer, who conducted them over the works. The 

 strong gates that are in cousse of erection were examined, and the process of 

 pile-driving was witnessed. At the shipyard, which adjoins the dock, the 

 company were received by Mr. Patterson, the manag-er. The drawing-office was 

 first visited, and there the models of the vessels that the Company have built or 

 are building were seen. Walking round the yard they examined the machine 

 for planing the edges and butts of plates, the five punching and shearing 

 machines, the angle-iron cutting machines, &c. As time was limited, the party 

 passed on to the steam-hammer, lately erected in the yard. A block was made 

 from scraps, and the process of converting it into what is called " hammered 

 scrap iron " was illustrated. Instead of having to send this description of iron 

 away, it is wrought into keel bars, and stem and stern posts. The ruins of the 

 saw mill that was burnt down last week were next viewed, and the company 

 passed on to the Lonsdale Hematite Ironworks. We may state that the Ship- 

 building Company have in course of construction six barques — one of 1,000 tons, 

 for Messrs. Fisher and Sprott; two of 800 tons each, for Messrs. Jackson and 

 Metcalf ; one of 800 tons, for Captain Borrowdale ; one of SCO tons, for Captain 

 Connell ; and one of 200 tons, for Caj^tain Nelson. In addition to these there 

 are contracts on hand for three other vessels — one of 600 tons, for Mr. Raie, 

 Liverpool ; one of 650 tons, for Captain Nelson ; and one of 800 tons, for 

 Captain Ditchburn. 



The Lonsdale Ironworks, over which the party were kindly conducted by 

 Mr. Baird, managing director, stands on an area of aboiit six acres. There are 

 three furnaces in blast, and one is in course of erection. Those in blast are all 

 close-topped, the gas being utilized for heating air, raising steam, &c., thereby 

 effecting a considerable saving as compared with the old system. The furnaces 

 were tapped in rotation, so that there was abundant opportunity of observing 

 the process of "pig" making. The engine-room was the next department. 

 Here are three large engines, on the " grasshopper " principle, by Barclay, of 

 Kilmarnock. There are seven boilers in operation, heated by gas, and two 

 others are well on towards completion — the latter being required for the new 

 furnace (larger than the present ones, but on the same principle) which is 

 being constructed on the south side of the works. The "hoist" for the new 



