1 6 Transactions. — Afiscellaneous. 



Wellington. The second length, of 70 ft., is shunted off the ways, but can be 

 attached in an hour or two when it is required to raise a long vessel. The 

 object gained, in disconnecting the two pieces, is tlie saving of wear and tear 

 and waste of power in hauling up and. lowering this extra length of cradle, 

 which is not requii-ed for any vessel not exceeding 200 ft. in length. The weight 

 of the cradle is about 200 tons, and that of the part detached about 60 tons. 

 The centre longitudinal beam consists of a double line of 18 in. x 12 in. iron- 

 bark timber, made into continuous length by scarfing each length of timber 

 together, the scarf being secured by wooden keys and a scarf plate on each 

 side f in. thick ; distance pieces are fixed at intervals of 4 ft. to keep the two 

 beams at their proper distance from each other. The outer beams are of 

 18 in. X 11 in. iron-bark, secured in the same manner at the scarfs as the 

 centre beams, while the width between the centres of the outer beams is 30 ft., 

 corresponding with the width of the ways. 



The wheels are of solid cast iron, each wheel haA'ing a 2|- in. wrought iron 

 shaft cast in, and are 1 ft. in diameter ; the wheel carriages, also of cast iron, 

 being secured to the longitudinal beams with four 1-^ in. bolts. There are 

 sixteen pall carriages, fixed in convenient positions on the centre beams, to 

 allow the palls to fall into the rack cast on the centre ways ; cranked bars and 

 triggers are fixed to allow the palls to be freed under water, after a vessel is 

 placed on the carriage. The power to raise a vessel is applied to the fore part 

 of the centre beams, a pulley wheel 4 ft. in diameter being fixed suitably for 

 the chain to pass over ; the wheel works loose on a shaft of 5 in. diameter. 

 A cross beam, made of two pieces of iron-bark 16 in. x 8 in., is fixed across 

 the lower end of each length of the carriage ; two strong diagonal struts are 

 also fixed from the centre to outer beams. These beams and struts serve to 

 keep the outer longitudinals in their position when a vessel is being raised, the 

 fore part of the outer beams being kept to gauge by iron rods crooked at 

 each end and dropping into a socket. On the longitudinal beams are placed 

 the bilge beams, or slide beams, formed of a suitable shape to take the bilge of 

 a vessel, being of a depth of 1 ft. over the centre beam and 2 ft. over the outer 

 beam ; they are secured to the outer beams by means of iron brackets and 

 cotters, and to the centre beam by means of an iron catch fitting into one side 

 of the slide beam, in the shape of a mortise and tenon in wood work. A space 

 of 8 in. or 10 in. is left between the beams, which is filled with wedges fixiuo- 

 the slide beams firmly in the catches. The slide beams are 15 ft. apart from 

 the centre, there being twelve slide beams on each side of the carriage. At 

 the end of four slide beams on each side there are sockets in which standards 

 are placed for keeping the ends of the ropes used for working the sliding blocks 

 and palls above water. The sliding blocks work on the top of the slide beams, 

 and on to these blocks pieces of wood are secured with dogs to suit the bilges 



