ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 105, 4 May 1900, Page 8

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(From Our London Correspondent.)

LONDON, March 23. THE DEATH OF ADMIRAL FAIRFAX. Many people in the colonies will learn with regret of the death at Naples last Tuesday of Admiral Sir Henry Fairfax, Comniamler-m-Chief at Devonport. Sir Henry, who was in his 64th year, and had gone, to the Italian city to recruit, had a \ery distingished career. He entered the navy in 1850, and as a middy in the Amphitrite saw a good deal of life in the Arctic regions. Later on a lieutenant .in the Ariel, he distinguished himself by ihe capture of a piratical slaver on the S.E. coast of Africa, and for his great gallantry in that affair he was promoted to the rank of commander. That was in ISO 2, and six years later he obtained his captaincy. His experience on the east coast of Africa Avas utilized in 1869-70, when he served as a member of the Foreign Office Commission on the Slave Trade, and again, in 1872-3, when he accompanied Sir Bartle Frere as naval attache on his mission to the Sultan of Zanzibar and Muscat. The next year he spent as private secretary to Mr Goschen, then First Lord of the Admiralty, and. relinquished that appointment to cora-n.-<nd the Volage, which conveyed.the astronomical party to 1. Kerguelen for the observation of the transit of Venus. Later he. went in the same ship to the S.E. coast of America, but in 1877 was recalled to take command of the Britannia training- ship, on which the Prince of Wales had decided to place his sons. Captain Fairfax held that post till July, 1882, when the Egyptian trouble led to his being transferred to the command of the Monarch, which as-. sisted at the bombardment of Alexandria. Subsequently Captain Fairfax commanded the naval and marine forces which seized and occupied Port Said. For his services he was awarded the Egyptian medal, the Khedive bronze star, and was made a C.8.. Promotion to flag" rank came in 1885, and in February, 1887. Admiral Fairfax took charge of the Australian station, a post he held till September, 1889. Returning home' he became Lard Commissioner of the Admiralty anci held office till 1892. His next appointment was to the command of the Channel Squadron,-and duringthe two years he held this proud post he twte.e commanded the "Red Fleet" in the manoeuvres. The first was marked by a serious mishap, the Howe, Admiral Fairfax's flagship, stranding at the entrance of Ferril harbour at a spot, where, according to the Admiralty charts, there were seven fathoms of water at low tide. There were seven fathoms, taut there was also a rock not charted, and it was the rock thatbrought about the trouble. The Admiral whose captain and navigating: lieutenant had been previously tried and acquitted, was much 1o /the astqnishment of laymen, court-martial-led, but secured a triumphant acquittal. In 1896 Admiral Fairfax was made a birthday X.C.8., and later fn:, the year became Commander-in-Chief at Plymouth, a post he held till-trans-ferred to Devonport.