NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 254, 2 November 1897, Page 3

NAVAL AFFAIRS.

The news given by cable that H.M.s. v "dove is to be recommissioned for *hor neriod of service on the Australasian finnfas a surprise. This was the ship, stßSe" Sydney Morning Herald," about Vchit was commonly declared that.no rter how formidable might be her enemy t could never run away. Her steaming Tsailin°- qualities were of the negative f"n,l so that.it took no one by surprise to , «,' that she was several months on the le^e home. The Ringdove of a year P however, is, it seems, not the same "<>?' t o .day ; that is, her recall to S Imperial headquarters from theAusInlian station was for the purpose of imnvin" the old Ringdove out of existence, P r fo r ag the machinery that was supm ;.j to o-ive her a speed of 13 knots is gernedr her sixain guns of the old attorn and her small arms equipment. What has been done in the Admiralty Inckvards to the Ringdove is to make her Vterally what before she was but m name, Gunboat of the first class, armed with nick firers and capable of successfully hasin^ a tolerably fast ship when luted, or of giving a good account of herself under more adverse circumtonces. Water tube boilers have taken ♦he place of the old shell boilers amongst the other changes, and engines of nearly MWe her former power have supplanted those which were in the Ringdove when she was out here. A wire yesterday from Adelaide gives the departure from there of iL Lizard for Melbourne, whither the Orlando and Karrakatta have already de•irted. The Rapid, one of the few ships Cm in port here, looks well after being m dock. She will have her homeward-bound whip flying shortly, as also will the Pylades. According to an Admiralty report received t the last mail, the coming flagship, Royal Arthur, is capable of maintaining a speed of 18 knots per hour " as long' as coal id stokers hold out."