The firm, it may be stated, is now engaged in the construction of their 300th vessel. Notwithstanding the work of re-arrangement and enlargement which has been under progress for two years or more, the work turned out during that period has been in no way behind as compared with other periods—a fact which eloquently testifies to the administrative ability of those in authority, and to the skill and energy of Mr John Ward, the general manager of Messrs Denny’s large works. In August, 1880, the firm issued a notice to their workmen stating that, having observed during the previous two years many improvements in methods of work and appliances introduced by them into the yard, they very readily recognised the advantage accruing to their business from these efforts of their workmen’s skill, and were desirous that they should not pass unrewarded. The notice further stated that to carry out this desire an Awards Committee had been appointed, which would consider any claims made by the workmen, and grant an award in proportion to the worth of the improvement made, the amount in no case to be more than £10, or less than £2. The committee then appointed, and which still holds office, was composed of well-known local gentlemen, in every way competent to adjudicate. Fully a year later the firm announced that in the case of an invention thought worthy of a greater award than £10, they had empowered the Committee to grant such an award, or were willing, in addition to giving an award of £10, to take out at their own expense provisional protection at the Patent Office on behalf of the inventor, so that he might either dispose of his invention or complete the patent, provided always they had free use of the thing patented in their own establishment. From the reports which have yearly been issued by the committee, it is apparent that considerable success has attended the scheme. The number of claims made since its institution has been as follows:—In 1880, 12; in 1881, 32; in 1882, 27; in 1883, 20; in 1884 (till July only), 91; total, 182. Awards have been granted as follows:—In 1880, 5; in 1881, 22; in 1882, 21; in 1883, 18; in 1884 (till July only), 27; total, 93. It is worthy of note that about one-half of the awards have been gained by workmen in the joiner’s department. Some of their machines have been modified or altered so as to do twice the quantity of work previously possible, some to do a new class of work, and others to do the same work with greater ease and safety. Four inventions have gained the maximum award of £10, viz., (1) an improvement made on ships’ water-closet and urinal; (2) the invention of a machine to cut mouldings imitative of wicker work; (3) an improved arrangement for disengaging steam and hand-steering gear on board ship; (4) an improved method of laying the Decauville railway across the main line. In connection