FLYING SQUADRON.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3889, 8 February 1870, Page 3

FLYING SQUADRON.

The members of the Provincial Council, with their wives and families, visited the flagship ' Liverpool* yesterday forenoon, the Steamer * Dote of Edinburgh' being placed at their disposal for the purpose, by Mr. S. Hague Smith, M.P.C. The Speaker, Mr. G-. M. O'Eorke, M.H.E., was on board, and so was nearly every member of the Council ; and, as most of the members! were accompanied by their wives and families, there was a very 1 goodly party on board the steamer. 'It had been arranged that the start from the wharf should be made at 11 o'clook sharp ; but as one of the morning papers announced, by oversight, that the ' Duke ' would not leave the wharf uotil half-past 11, Mr. S. Hague Smith, fearing that some members of the Council might thereby be misled, delayed the start until between a quarter and twenty minutes after 11. When the ' Duke' neared the 'Liverpool,' she was mistaken by the officer of _th« watch as bringing ordinary excursionists ; and he therefore politely announced, " Sorry we can't receive you. Will you go alongside another vessel of the Squadron,?" Captain Farquhar replied that he brought the members of the Provincial Council; and, after a moment's delay, the officer hailed in answer, " We will send a boat for the members of the Council/ As a boat could not have conveyed the 37 members of the Council, and •■the idea of leaving the ladies and children on board the steamer was one not to be entertained, there was something like consternation, or at least annoyance, amongst those on the ' Duke.' A boat speedily came from the ' Liverpool ;' and, a few words having passed in explanation, of the state of matters, the officer in charge It/ of the boat said he would return for^ further orders. The boat went back to the 'Liverpool;' and the 'Duke' wa* soon hailed to " come alongside." Before this could be done, however, owing to the wind, it was necessary to go ahead of the ' Liverpool,' and then to run round the « Phcebe,' the ' Barrosa/ and the | Scylla.' All which occupied time, so that it was nearing noon when the ' Duke' afc last got alongside the ' Liverpool.' A. gangway was placed from the paddlebox to one of the frigate's ports, as the most convenient mode of access for the ladies and children ; but then it became necessary to run in and slew the heavy Armstrong gun at the porfc-hole of which the gangway rested. When the captain of the gun and his crew arrived, for the purpose mentioned, there was an intimation that those on board the ' Duke 1 who happened to be in the line of fire had better move; for that the gun was loaded. Jt was, in fact, one of the guns loaded for the salute to the Governor, who was to visit the flagship at 2 o'clock. All the delays that had taken place were regrettable because of that fact; for it was because of the visit of his Excellency that the ' Liverpool' was, for the day, closed to ordinary visitors — there was a good deal of preparation going on on board, as well for the reception of the Governor as for the ball which was to take place during the afternoon — and it being quite noon before all the visitors could get oa board from the 'Duke/ the time they could continue their visit was necessarily limited, however, the officers did all they could in exhibiting the ship. The Admiral's cabin was open for inspection, and was carefully inspected; all the peculiarities of the large guns, with the arrangements for running them out or in, elevating, depressing, or moving them horizontally , were explained; and so was the operation of the small furnace and tubing by which foul air is drawn together aud ejected from the ship. Some of the visitors found their way to the boiler - room, and had peeps at their tubing; others got into the engine-room, and wondered at the enorinousness of the shaft, and the massive simplicity of its gearing. About an hour was spent on board ; the ' Duke ' reaching the wharf, on her return, about one o'clock.