FIRST ROYAL VISIT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 119, 16 November 1926, Page 3

FIRST ROYAL VISIT

FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO THE LATE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. The first Royal visit to Australia took place in 1867-68 (eighty years after the establishment of the first settlement), when the late Duke of Edinburgh was on a world-wide cruise in H.M.S. Galatea. ' ■ • ' The Duke, who was the second son of Queen Victoria, was then a young man of 24 years, and he enjoyed a wonderful progress through Australia, although his stay in Sydney was to some extent marred by an attempt on his lifo at Clontarf. The Duke of Edinburgh was in command of the Galatea, which first arrived in Sydney on 21st January, 1868, after Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart had been visited. H.M.S. Galatea remained in Sydney Harbour until 6th April, but the Royal visitor, in the meanwhile, visited BHbbane in. H.M.S. Challenger. The ship had a displacement of 3227 tons—a contrast to H.M.S. Hood, of 42,000 tons, which visited New Zealand and Australia with the Special Service Squadron. The Galatea was, however, a crack ship of her period, and a writer of the day wrote: —"The vessel has only to. be seen, even from a distance, to establish her character as one of the finest and fastest frigates in the Navy. She. is beyond comparison the best reprej sentative of the British Navy that hag visited these waters. She is a perfect model of naval architecture—a complete realisation of the old English idea of an English ship of war." The Galatea had a length over all of 317 feet, and was armed with eighteen lOin 86----ewt guns, four 6J-inch guns, and sixrifled 64-pounders. She had a complement of 540 officers and men.

In those far-off days Sydney had not had any experience of organising spectacular welcomes to Royal or other distinguished visitors, and the regulations which governed the water pageant when H.M.S.* Galatea steamed into Port Jackson make strange reading, states the "Sydney Morning Herald." All available steamers, including ferry boats, as well as the yachts and smaller craft, participated in the welcome on the harbour. The steam vessels were organised into squadrons to meet the Galatea, and it was ordered that each vessel was to exhibit her number at the fore in numerals of Marryatt's code. "The nuumber of each steamer," the regulations continued, "is also to be shown in white chalk 3ft long on either bulwark abreast the forefront. In case of any steamer slowing her engines a white flag is to be shown over her stern, as a signal to warn the ship immediately following in her wake. A red. flag is to be exhibited in a similar manner in the event of anyone falling overboard, so that the vessel astern may render prompt assistance"." ' '' Passengers were "strictly prohibited from occupying the tops of the paddleboxes, or any space set apart for the commander, nor will they be allowed to get into the boats, meddle with the falls or gear, or with the lifebuoys." When the Galatea was in the centre of the welcoming fleet the flag signal "Welcome" was hoisted on each vessel. The regulations set forth also that the ensigns were to be lowered, and "three hearty cheers" given. "It is hoped," it was added, "that up to this time strict silence will be observed, in order to give effect to this welcome cheering." The smoke from the steamers taking part in the welcome was anticipated as a cause of possible trouble, and it was decreed that "in entering the Eeads speed will be slowed to enable the Galatea to pass through without obstruction from smoke. Each vessel is to use Bulli coal or wood, and is to open her furnaco doors and use such other suitable methods for consuming their smoke as may be deemed advisable. In cases, however, of signals not being discernible by reason of smoke, numbers will be made by the commodores from the bridge of their respective ships, in white figures ,on black boards." . . . „ '. ; During his prolonged stay in Sydney the Duke was entertained at a round of festivities, and made several excursions into the country. He returned from Brisbane on 2nd March, 1868,, and ten days later at Clontarf, during the Sailors' Home picnic, Henry James O'Farrell made an attempt to assassinate the Royal visitor. After luncheon the Du'ko was conversing with tho Governor (the Earl of Belmore) and Sir William Manning, when O'Farrell produced a revolver, and at a distance of five or six feet look deliberate aim.at tho Duke aiul fired. The shot took effect in the middle of the back. Many spectators sprang towards O'Farrell, who then aimed the revolver at Sir William Manning. The shot misfired, and Mr. Vial, a well-known Sydney business man, seized O'Farrell. In the struggle O'Farrell fired another shot, ■which wounded Mr. George Thome, senr. The police had difficulty in. preventing the crowd from dealing with 0 'Farrell, who was ultimately taken to Sydney. The Duke recovered from the wound, and O'Farrell was executed at Darlinghurst Gaol on 21st April. The Galatea sailed from Sydney on 6th April, but visited Australia again in 1869-70.