THE GERMAN WARSHIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10594, 1 March 1895, Page 5

THE GERMAN WARSHIP.

The German warship Bussard arrived in port yesterday afternoon from Akaroa, and was moored at the man-of-war buoy inside the moles. Daring the afternoon aho was visited by Mr J. Joyce, M.H.R., Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board; Mr H. G. Simms, acting German Consul ; the Mayors of Lyttelton and Christchurch; Mr C. Hood Williams, secretary to the. Harbour Board; Captain Clark, harbour-master, and Mr F. Waymouth, who welcomed Captain Sehedar and hia officers to the port. Later in the day a number of German residents were introduced by Mr Simms. The Bussard belongs to the cruiser class, and is one of three similar vessels which make up the German Pacific squadron. The other two vessels are the Falke and the Moira. The former is a sister ship to the Bussard, and is expected to visit these waters shortly, while the Moire is a surveying vessel. Like all the vessels belonging to the German Navy, the Bussard is painted white, and her decks, &c., are kept scrupulously clean and tidy. She is a modern vessel, having been launched in 1890. She is of 1580 tons displacement, bar engines are of 2800 indicated horse-power, and her length is 256 ft. Her armament is notheavy, consisting of eight 101 centimeter quick-firing guns, which are about equal to the 4-iuch guns of a similar pattern made by English manufacturers. In addition to these she has four machine guns and two tubes for launching E'ish torpedoes. Her speed is sixteen knots and ’ her complement consists of 163 men. The chief field of operations of the German warships in the Pacific is of course at Samoa and the neighbouring islands, and the visit of the Bussard to New Zealand waters is chiefly to obtain recreation and at the same time to put in a certain amount of big gun work and torpedo practice. She has been in Akaroa for the past fortnight, and during that time the crew have been kept hard at work undergoing their training. In this respect the system adopted by the Gorman naval authorities differs somewhat from that of other leading Powers, for the men are expected to attain proficiency in their many duties in the short space of two years. Consequently the officers have severe work to achieve satisfactory results. The following io a list of the officers,,©! the Bussard : Korvetten Kapitain, Scheden; Kapitain Lieutenant, Kinderling; Lieutenants, Holliveg, Warreutrapp and Karfi; Maschinen Ulutcr Ingeniour, Tamm; Stabesarzb, Dr Kilmer; Marine, Uluter Ziiiilmeiatsr, Wolschke. There will be a church parade at the German Church, Christchurch, on Sunday, after which the men will ho entertained at dinner at the Wellington Hotel, The president of the Christchurch Working Men’s Clqb, Mr Martin, has written to Captain Scheder, of H.I.M.S. Bussard, extending to the officers and men of the vessel the privileges of members of the club during their stay at Lyttelton.