that vessels with old boilers which have been previously passed with such an arrangement should be detained for the alterations to be carried out.

Of course in any case in which a Surveyor is of opinion that it is positively dangerous to have a length of pipe between the boilers and the safety-valve chest, it is his duty at once to insist on the requisite alterations being made before granting a declaration.

If any person place an undue weight on the safety-valve of any steam ship, or in the case of steam ships surveyed under the Act, increase such weight beyond the limits fixed by the engineer surveyor, he shall, in addition to any other liabilities he may incur by so doing, incur a penalty not exceeding one hundred pounds.

The engineer surveyor shall declare, amongst other things, the limits of the weight to be placed on the safety-valves; that the safety-valves are such, and in such condition as required by the Act and that the machinery is sufficient for the service for the time he fixes, and is in good condition for that time.

78. The area per square foot of fire-grate surface of Government safety-valves, or, (when there is more than one Government safety-valve on the boiler) the combined area of the Government safety-valves locked up should be not less than that given in the following tables opposite the boiler pressure intended, provided the valves are not less than three inches in diameter. This applies to new vessels or vessels which have not received a passenger certificate.

When, however, the valves are of the common description, and are made in accordance with the tables, it will be necessary to fit them with springs, having great elasticity, or to provide other means to keep the accumulation within moderate limits; and as boilers with forced draught require valves considerably larger than those found by the tables, the design of the valves proposed for such boilers should be submitted to the Board for consideration.

In ascertaining the fire-grate area, the length of the grate should be measured from the inner edge of the dead plate to the front of the bridge, and the width from side to side of the furnace on the top of the bars at the middle of their length.

If there is only one safety-valve on a main boiler the Surveyor should

not grant a declaration without first referring the case to the Board for special instructions.

In the case of small boilers, such as launch boilers, if it is wished to fit valves smaller than three inches diameter the case should be submitted for the consideration of the Board.

79. The Surveyor in his examination of the machinery and boilers is particularly to direct his attention to the safety-valves, and whenever he considers it necessary, he is to satisfy himself as to the pressure on the boiler by actual trial.

The Surveyor is to fix the limits of the weight to be placed on the safety-valves, and the responsibility of issuing a declaration before he is fully satisfied on the point is very grave. The law places on the Surveyors the responsibility of "declaring" that the boilers are in his judg ment sufficient with the weights he states. The Surveyor is to examine the whole of the valves, weights and springs at every survey.

The responsibility of seeing to the efficiency of the mode by which the valves are fitted so as to be out of the control of the engineer when steam is up rests with the Surveyor, as long as it is efficient, and the method adopted is approved of by the Board of Trade.

The safety-valves should be fitted with lifting gear, so arranged that the two or more valves on any one boiler can at all times be eased together

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without interfering with the valves on any other boiler. The lifting gear should in all cases be arranged so that it can be worked by hand either from the engine-room or stoke-hole.

Care should be taken that the safety-valves have a lift equal to at least one-fourth their diameter; that the openings for the passage of steam to and from the valves, including the waste steam pipe, should each have an area not less than the area of valves required by paragraph 78, and that each valve-box has a drain pipe fitted at its lower part. In the case of lever valves, if the lever is not bushed with brass, the pins must be of brass; iron and iron working together must not be passed. Too much care cannot be devoted to seeing that there is proper lift, and free means of escape of waste steam, as it is obvious that unless the lift and means for escape of waste steam are ample, the effect is the same as reducing the area of the valve or putting on an extra load. The valve seats should be secured by studs and nuts.

The Surveyors are, as far as is in their power, to make the opinion of the Board on these points generally known to the owners of passenger

steamers.

80. When the Surveyor has determined the amount of pressure, he is to see the valves weighted accordingly, and the weights or springs fixed in such a manner as to preclude the possibility of their shifting or in any way increasing the pressure. The limits of the weight on the valves is to be inserted in the declaration, and should it at any time come to a Surveyor's knowledge that the weights or the loading of the valves have been shifted, or otherwise altered, or that the valves have been in any way interfered with, so as to increase the pressure, without the sanction of the Board of Trade, he is at once to report the facts to the Board of Trade.

81. If the following conditions are complied with, the Surveyor need raise no question as to the substitution of spring loaded valves for dead weighted valves:

(1.) That at least two separate valves are fitted to each boiler, except in the case of donkey or other small boilers, that are not main boilers, in which the grate surface does not exceed 14 square feet, in which case a single safety-valve may be passed, provided it is not less than three

inches in diameter, and large enougn for the grate area as per table of safety-valve areas.

(2.) That the valves are of the proper size, as by paragraph 78.

(3.) That the springs and valves be so cased in that they cannot be tampered with.

4.) That provision be made to prevent the valves flying off in case of the springs breaking.

(5.) That the requisite safety-valve area is cased in in the usual manner of Government valves.

(6.) That screw lifting gear be provided to ease all the valves, as by paragraph 79.

(7.) That the size of the steel of which the spring is made is to be found by the following formula:

D= the diameter of the spring (from center to center of wire) in inches.

d = the diameter, or side of square, of the wire in inches.

c = 8,000 for round steel.

c = 11,000 for square steel.

(8.) That the springs be protected from the steam and impurities issuing from the valves.

(9.) That when valves are loaded by direct springs, the compressing screws abut against metal stops or washers, when the loads sanctioned by the Surveyor are on the valves.

(10.) That the springs have a sufficient number of coils to allow a compression under the working load of at least one quarter the diameter of the valve.

In no case is the Surveyor to give a declaration for spring-loaded valves, unless he has examined them and is acquainted with the details of their construction, and unless he has tried them under full steam, and