and a report is to be sent to the engineer's office before noon. He is also to report any increase of density, and is to satisfy himself that boilers supposed to be standing full up are really in that condition.

In the case of boilers opened out for cleaning, particular care is to be taken by the boilermaker that no men are inside the boiler while he is trying the mountings. Stop valves, &c., of boilers opened out for cleaning or examination, are to be shut and securely lashed whilst the work is in progress.

The chief stoker of the engine-room, or other responsible person, will pass the word, at all times of ceasing work, for "in lights."

Tubes in auxiliary boilers are to be swept on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Fires are to be cleaned every morning watch, and, in warships, are to be built up on Mondays and Fridays, to be ready for the routine drills.

Ashes are to be neatly stowed in the stokeholds in bags, and are not to be stacked in heaps against the bulkheads or boiler fronts.

The chief stoker of the stokehold is to communicate with the chief stoker of the upper deck party when the time appointed for getting rid of ashes arrives; this occurs generally on turning to in the morning. The P.O.'s of the deck party are responsible that the ashes are hoisted up and discharged overboard. No ashes are hoisted up on Sundays in warships, because the decks are then kept ready for inspection.

Coals for the galley and also the bogies required for warming ship, are to be hoisted at the regular appointed times, generally about three times a week. These bogies are placed in a furnace of a boiler not in use to burn clear, and are thus made use of to dry the uptakes and combustion chambers. One fire engine is to pump continuously through the seamen's head ; a constant pressure (as arranged) is to be maintained.

The main drain, or bilges, are only to be pumped out in the middle watch, or at other times as ordered. If occasion arises unexpectedly, a communication is to be made to the quartermaster on deck, and permission obtained, in order that boats alongside may not be fouled by the greasy water. After being used for pumping out bilges, the pump should draw from and discharge to the sea, before the discharge is diverted into the fire main, to wash the pipes out with clean water.

The ventilating fans are to be started and stopped according to the orders for ventilating the ship applicable to the time of year and climate,

It is to be clearly understood that, as a rule, all sluice and drain valves throughout the ship are to be kept closed and only opened when required for immediate use, after which they are to be closed. The same order applies to the water-tight doors of coal bunkers. Only bunkers in use are to be open. It should be a rule that, after working hours, only those water-tight doors required for traffic should be left open; as many as possible should be closed throughout the night, and the engineer officer should, when going rounds, see that the orders respecting watertight doors have been carried out.

A fitter E.R. A. is to examine carefully the feed pumps in use on "turning to," and is to report their condition to the senior engineer.

Each engineer officer will inspect his own part of the ship before 8 a.m. on Sundays; preferably in time to have small faults rectified before the men leave; he will afterwards report his department ready for inspection to the chief engineer.

On Saturday forenoons the storekeeper is to give the blacksmith the tools which require repairing. The blacksmith will also repair any spanners and other implements which may have been damaged in the week.

All tools and hand lamps borrowed from the storekeeper are to be returned each evening. The storekeeper will keep a list of the issued tools on a slate, and will report to the E.O. of the day when everything is returned, or if any tools or lamps are missing. No hand lamps whatever are to be retained by day men in any of the departments. Those lamps required by watchkeepers are to be carefully attended to, and the watch-keepers are responsible for their safe custody; they are to guard against fire caused by sparks blown from the lamps, or from overheating of woodwork due to the proximity of the lamp flame.

No clothes or boots are to be left lying about the department, nor are they to be placed in stow holes.

The men will put their change of clothes, when they begin and leave off work, in the proper lockers provided.

No clothes are to be left hanging to dry during working hours, unless special permission is obtained from the senior engineer.

On no account is anything inflammable to be placed on the tops, or at the backs, of the boilers. Proper drying lines may be provided which are to be used only at the appointed hours. These lines are not to be placed inside the boiler casing.

On entering the engine-room department the men will put on their working boots, and on leaving they will remove them, in order not to soil the decks with dirty boot marks.

Men, when at work below, are to be properly dressed in clothes of uniform pattern.

All main and auxiliary machinery not in use is to be moved daily by the hand gear.

The main engines, when not in use, should be oiled at least once a week.

ORDERS FOR THE PETTY OFFICER IN CHARGE OF A

SUB-DEPARTMENT ON DAY DUTY.

He is responsible that no cocks or valves in his department are interfered with by unauthorised persons; that drain valves are left as directed; that all glands of pumps and small cocks and valves are efficiently packed; that the men carry out their work as directed; and that the department is always in a proper state of order. He is responsible for the return of naked lights and tools at clearing up time; and that spanners, &c., are replaced in the proper racks; also that the department is left cleaned up ready for inspection by the proper officer. leaving the department he is to see the water-tight doors closed as ordered.

Before

He is to supervise all cleaning work, and is to make sure that bearings are properly protected from dust and dirt by canvas, or more permanent, covers. He is to see that no oily waste and other débris is thrown about or allowed to accumulate. Such dangerous combustible substances are to be immediately collected in iron pails and sent into the stokehold to be burnt in a boiler furnace.

He is to report defects, as observed or made, to the senior engineer, or to the proper officer of his department.

He is to see that all the machinery in his department is properly moved each day, and that it is kept in a proper state of cleanliness and preservation.

ORDERS FOR THE PETTY OFFICER IN CHARGE OF BOILERS IN USE FOR AUXILIARY PURPOSES.

He is to maintain a constant steam pressure.

He is to maintain a constant water level.

He is to economise the consumption of coal by careful, smart, and regular stoking.

He is to exercise proper supervision and control of the stokers in his watch.

He is to try the test cocks of all water gauges about once an hour.

He is to pay proper attention to the lubrication and working of the feed pumps.

He is to carry out the special instructions given him in the Harbour Routine Orders.

He is to fill up the proper columns in the engine-room register: -The quantity of coal used each hour, the water in the reserve feed tanks, the steam pressure, densities of boiler and feed tank, temperatures of stokehold and coal bunkers in use, and particulars of the auxiliary machinery in use are to be logged in the Engine-Room Register. The P.O. will also log any slight defect observed in the machinery, and draw the attention of his relief to the defect. He will immediately report any serious defect to the engineer officer of the day, or other engineer officer more readily available. The latter should take steps to inform the chief and senior engineers of the nature of the emergency as soon as possible.

The P.O. in charge of boilers should lose no time in summoning the nearest competent person to assist him in case of a difficulty arising which he does not thoroughly understand. Many accidents may thus be averted by prompt action.

In order to economise the consumption of fuel in the night watches, when the load on the auxiliary machinery is light, one wing fire in each boiler may be used for burning good ashes.

Precautions for Starting additional Auxiliary Engines.In order to assist the P.O. in charge of the boiler in use for auxiliary purposes, proper notice should always be sent to him when extra machinery is to be started, in order that he may brighten and thicken his fires and so supply a proper amount of steam. The notice should be sent half an hour before the auxiliary engines are required, for it should be remembered that a certain amount of steam is required to warm up large auxiliary engines.

Consequent on an increased number of auxiliary engines being used, the auxiliary condenser will require attention, and the quantity of circulating water must be increased to prevent overheating; also, the speed of the air pump must be increased and regulated. The engineer officer on duty may be able to supply the steam, needed by an unexpected demand for a particular auxiliary engine, by stopping some less important engine until the fires have burnt up sufficiently. The particular course to be followed will require a little judgment, and should be referred to a senior officer if time permits; and in any case a report of the circumstance must be made, and also logged in the register.

As an instance, suppose the boat hoist engines are required for a period of perhaps twenty minutes, the evaporators might

be stopped during that period; but the operation requires care and the personal supervision of an engineer in order to prevent priming on restarting the evaporators.

When large auxiliary engines are started a great quantity of water formed by condensed steam is circulated through the auxiliary exhaust pipes. This water often finds its way into the cylinders of engines already at work, and heavy knocking may occur. In such a case the engines affected must be eased, and the drain cocks on the cylinders and slides opened to get rid of the water. Fast running dynamo engines are usually most affected in such a case, and the watch-keeper on them should receive proper warning.

On Starting Auxiliary Engines.-The steam and exhaust pipes connected up should be drained as thoroughly as possible. The routine to be carried out is very similar to that required when warming up the main engines. The cylinders and slides should be warmed very gradually by the admission of a small quantity of steam; all drains should remain open till they blow freely; the lubricators should be attended to; and, finally, the engine should be turned by the hand gear through a dozen revolutions before the full steam pressure is admitted. The engine should be started very slowly; great strains may be set up in the cylinders by want of clearance, or in the exhaust pipes by the momentum of the water collected, if the steam be admitted too quickly. A very little steam should be admitted by easing the valve, and the engine turned by hand until it starts automatically. If an auxiliary engine refuse to start after this treatment, the reason may often be found in the fact that some exhaust valve has not been opened, or, more rarely, an essential steam valve.

Similarly, on starting pumps, ascertain personally that all necessary valves are open. A pump is often started with the delivery valve closed; should the pump be fitted with a pressure gauge, as fire engines are, the fact will become apparent. Such accidents should on no account be permitted to occur, and are the result of thoughtlessness and want of proper supervision. A young officer should remember that his subordinates are relieved of responsibility by his presence, and should himself take the proper precautions before putting steam on the engines.

SUMMARY OF WEEKLY HARBOUR ROUTINE IN A WARSHIP.

Monday.-Work all sluice and drain valves throughout department. Test water in boilers by litmus paper, and take densities. Work all boiler mountings. A party of stokers is required for the deck evolution carried out in the morning.