Melbourne - a general history

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, Friday, March 18^th, 1892:
TRIAL TRIP OFF HARTLEPOOL The s.s. Melbourne went on her trial trip yesterday. She is a fine steel screw steamer, built to the requirements of Lloyd’s highest class, and is of the following dimensions, viz.: Length over all, 270ft; breadth, 35ft 6in; depth, 19ft 5in., and has been built by Messrs. William Gray and Co., Limited, to the order of the Melbourne Coal, Shipping, and Engineering Co., of Melbourne. Fine triple-expansion engines of 700 indicated h.p., with two steel boilers, working at a pressure of 160lbs. per square inch, have been supplied by the Central Marine Engine Works of Messrs. Gray and Co. The construction of the ship and engines has been under the superintendence of Mr. J.G. Kinghorn, of Liverpool, and Captain Johnson, of Melbourne.

After adjusting compasses she received on board from a tugboat at 10 o'clock various gentlemen interested in the trial, and proceeded at once to make a full speed run. The vessel had on board 1,118 tons deadweight in the shape of bunkers and water ballast, and in this trim she made the run from Hartlepool Lighthouse  to Tynemouth Pier and back again in four hours, the engines running at 85 revolutions per minute the whole time without stop or hitch of any kind, and without any part becoming the least heated, or needing the application of water at all. The trial was witnessed by Mr. Kinghorn (inspecting engineer), Capt. Johnson, and others, Capt. J. Murrell and Mr. T. Mudd being also on board. The trial was considered to be highly satisfactory in every respect, the handiness of the machinery and excellent running being specially remarked upon. The Melbourne proceeds in a few days to take up her station on the coast of Australia.

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