H.M.S. GOLDFINCH.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2009, 13 December 1895, Page 2

H.M.S. GOLDFINCH.

It having been telegraphed that H.M.S. Goldfinch had left Wellington for Akaroa at 10i35 a.m. on Wednesday, those interested were ready to welcome her in harbour early yesterday, it being reported some rival tradesmen had pulled down'the harbour to have first chance of supplying her. "At 11.30 a.m., however, news was telegraphed that for some reason, unknown she had returned to Wellington, and would not reach here till Saturday morning at the earliest The Goldfinch was here at our Regatta of 1892, when her boats sailed a race, and there were all sorts of shore festivities, including a cricket match, and no doubt she willbe warmly welcomed on her return visit. However, as she has been re-commissioned since then, we must not expect to welcome all of the old faces, though we see the majority are still aboard. The Goldfinch is a first-class unarmoured gun-boat, with composite hull 805 tons, with an indicated horse-power of 1200. Her length is 165 ft and beam Slfti She was launched in Sheerness in 1889, her cost being She carries six 4in 25cwt breech-loading gans, two three-pounder' quick firing and two machine guns is capable of steaming 13 knots per hoar when required, and can carry 105 tons of coal in her bunkers. She has been recommissioned since last here, her present officers being as follows :— Lieutenant and Commander, Henry B. V. Floyd ; Navigating Lieutenant, Howard F. J. Rowley; Sub-Lieutenant, Alexander Farrington ; Surgeon Ernest A. Penfold, M.B. j Assistant Paymaster in cbrage, William H. Le Bran ; Engineer, Frederick G. Jacobs; Gunner. Thomas B.fChowen.