8th Dtce??iber, ipoS. 



Sir John Byers, M.A., M.D.. President, in the Chair. 



THE GROWTH OF A LEVIATHAN. 

 By Mr. Edward Wilding. 

 The Chairman said he believed there was no department in 

 which they would find abetter example of the practical application 

 of the most advanced developments of every branch of science 

 than in shipbuilding. It was therefore only natural in a great 

 commercial centre like Belfast, where that industry occupied such 

 a prominent position, that they should have a lecture dealing with 

 the very interesting subject " The Growth of a Leviathan." There 

 were, perhaps, some in that meeting who remembered the launch 

 of the first Oceanic, which was well styled the long Atlantic grey- 

 hound, and which revolutionised all previous ideas as to Trans- 

 atlantic steamers. She was about 465 feet long, she had a single 

 screw, and she also employed sail, and she left Harland &: Wolff's 

 establishment thirty-five years ago. The next forward step was in 

 1889, when the magnificent steamers the Teutonic and Majestic 

 were built. They were about 100 feet longer than the Oceanic, 

 they had twin screws, but abandoned sail. Then, in the gradual 

 evolutionary progress in shipbuilding, came the new or second 

 Oceanic in 1899, with an increase in length over the Majestic 

 and Teutonic of about 100 feet. She was conspicuous for the 

 luxuriance of her fittings and for the adoption of every device to 

 make her passengers comfortable, and to render them forgetful of 

 the fact that they were really in a ship. The introduction of 

 electricity, cold storage, and refrigerating machinery all combined 

 to make the Oceanic a floating hotel. The gentleman who was 

 to address them that night occupied a very responsible and 

 important position on the staff of Harland & Wolff. Mr. Wilding 



