ARRIVAL OF H.M.S.S. GALATEA, WITH HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VI, Issue 1705, 10 May 1869, Page 5

ARRIVAL OF H.M.S.S. GALATEA, WITH HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

PUBLIC LANDING TO TAKE PLA.CB T ZE3I I S 33 A. T, AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK. : : ♦— ARRIVAL OF THE CHALLENGER ' ' WITH HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR- —• : — Oue illustrious visitor has certainly stolen a march upon us all, and has found Uβ in the midst of our preparations for his reoeption. Although it seemed that fall - time had been allowed for his arrival at the Kawau, from "Wellington, it had entered the mind of ao one that the Galatea could have been so near Auckland without some announcement. Whenhertaut masts and lofty spars first appeared behind the broken outline of the western spur of Bangitoto, and the signal of " a man-of-war iusido Tiri" was run up at Mount Victoria, there was great excitement in town. At the same time a eignal, previously arranged by Captain-Burgess, was hoisted at Tiri Tiri and repeated at Mount Victoria, for the convenience of the people of Auckland, by means of which we were enabled to announce the arrival of the Prince an and a-half before his arrival in harbour. Specu-" ktion was rife in town as to the name of the vessel which was coining in, and of course the general belief was that the Challenger was brinein" up the Governor, to make arrangements for the reception. When, however, the fricate opened the North Head/ nnd her lofty proportions loomed ponderous, and yet graceful, before the eyes of the many gazera upon the wharf, a whisper at once ran round—initiated bv those who had previously seen her—that it was the Galatea herself that was entering our Dort At once the question obtained mtonse interest; bets were freely offered and taken on the subject, and it was not until some time after the ship was safely moored in the man-of-war around and communication had been had witli the shore, that the identity of the stranger was generally ascertained.- The Galatea presented a noble appearanoe as she rounded the North Head. The proportions of hor lofty hull ehowed to great advantage, and her tall spars and trim rigging seemed to tower 1 majestically as she slowly steamed into full view whilst on either side from their dark ports eleamed the muzzles of her " red artillery." The Q.ueen-street "Wharf soon became crowded •with spectators, and, when the anchor was let • go there could not have been less than a thou--1 sand persons congregated on the different points of observation. As the Galatea steamed up harbour she saluted the Ution Jack which was ' hoisted at the dockyard at the North Shore. ! Her unexpected appearance, with, the Duke in command, caused great excitement in town, as great uncertainty, of course, existed as to the programme to be adopted. It appears that the arrangdment between His Koyal Highneei and His Excellency, as to the course to be pursued on leaving Wellington, was as follows :— '. The Galatea was to proceed direct to the Kawau, whero it was expected she would 1 arrive on Friday. The Governor was to follow ' on the following day direct for Auckland,-to 1 announce the approach of the Galatea, which vessel would have arrived from the Kawau on I the same day. Hie Excellency having arranged for the landing to take place to-day. In any case, therefore, the reception could hardly have I been deferred until to-morrow. Upon the arrival of the Galatea being known, Dr. Pollen, the Kesident Minister ; his Honor the Superintendent, the Provincial Secretary, and Col." jilliotfc at once went off to the vessel, and were warmly rej ceived by his lioyal Highness, who, however, stated his inability to fix any time for an official landing, or to enter into any arrangements, uutil the arrival of his Excellency, in the Challenger, p The Duke explained hie unexpected arrval by ' stating that the weather had been extremely ' bad along the coast, and that he did not ' think he should haro had time to put into [ the ELawau, and had pushed on at half steam for Auckland, being anxious not to disappoint the people, who, he expected, were prepared for his reception on Monday. His -Boyal Ilip;bne33 expressed hims«lf much pleased with the scenery of the harbour of Auckland and the general aspect of the town. ' The ship left Wellington on Monday last under steam, and on the following day, the wind • being fair, hauled up her screw and proceeded under canvos as far as Cape Colville, at which F point, the wind being foul and strong, she , furled everything, and came in, uuder steam as we have described. 1 We have already published elaborate descriptions of this noble vessel, the finest ship of war I that has entered Auckland, ae extracts from i Melbourne papers, and shall therefore spare our readers a repetition, and merely proceed to give a condensed account of her, for the items contained in which wo are indebted to the courtesy I of one of her officers. As.tho Galatea will be i thrown open to the public in the course of two ) or three days, it will bo within the power of all • our readers to indulge their curiosity with a sight of one of the most beautiful triumphs of human skill that it is possible to conceive—a 3 British man-of-war. Hor tonnage is 3227; j 3 length over all, 317 feet; breadth, 50 feet; I , horse power, 800; speed at the measured mile when new, 13 knots, the indicated horse power - at that time being 3515. She can stow 700 tons a of , coal in her boxes, and 72 tons of water in her tanks. Her armament consists of the following I guns, viz.:—On the maindeck 1810-inch 86 cvft. guns, and four large 6>- ton gune, throwing l cylindrical shot of 115 lbs., and large double f shells weighing 160 lbs , and containing within them a bursting charge of 8 lbs. of powder. • On the quarter-deck she carries 2 rifled 641 pounders, and 2 more of tho same kind on the :, forecastle. Her drought, of water (with three f months' provisions on board) is—aft, 22 feet 7 inches ; and forward, 21 feet 8 in. The height e of her foremost ports above the water-line is 12 e feet 9 inches, of the midship ports 10 feet 6J ' inches, and of the after ports 12 feet 5 inches. a Total number of guns, 26. Her engines, which e are well worthy of inepeotion, work up to 600 horae-power. ■ ' - ■

Aino'ngetfaieinoW- noteworthy objectß" Sbon the-Galatea-is her twin-sorew-e team-launch ,rh e Polyphemus, a, beautiful boat, forty feet in length, and carrying" a. "gem of an engine, made by Pennlof Greenwich; : This style of boat is a noveltyin '•; Auckland, "arid the' spectacle of this little miniature steamer darting like a dragon-fly over the waters of the harbour, excited much admiration yesterday." Another launch, named' the Aow, of larger size, but not propelled by steam; is also carried on deck. ' ' The Galatea has on board a' full complement of six. hUadred and fifty men, but several changes have taken place among her officers eince she was last seen in Australian waters,-the following is ribw the correct list:—Captain his Boyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, K.G.; commander—E. !S. Adeane; lieutenants—G. W. B. Heneago, Wallace B. M'Hardy, Francis Bomilly, Adolpous A. F. Fitzgeorge, J". W. Hamsay, Lord Beresford; navigating lieutenant —W. H. Bradley ; captain of marines—Kobert F. Taylor; lieutenant Boyal Marine Artillery —Francis H. Poore; chaplain and naval instructor—Uev. J. Milner, 8.A.; staff surgeon — J". Young, M.D.; paymaster—Thomas Bradbridge ; surgeon—W. L. Powell; chief engineer i —James Seer; assistant-surgeon—W.H.Symes; : engineers—George Booth, George Lucas, Laurence Moreton, James Nelson, Charles S. Jerden, I William T. Bay; sub-lieutenants— J. Halifax, | Guy Mannering, George R. E. Eyre, Charles Campbell, £. J. Fellows, L. C. Oorry ; navigating sub-lientenant— J. B. Veitoh ; assistantpaymasters—Charles E. James, Edmund H. Kaye, W. O. Greenslade ; assistant-engineer— T. J.' Osborne; midshipmen—H. T. S. Dorrien, George Neville, Hon. H. G. Howe, Thomas P. Carey,- Herbert Onslow. H. H. Archer, E. Wild, W. H. L. Gale, H. E. Thomas, H. S. Pean, P. A. C. de Crespigny, A. W. Paget, A. W. Brown, H. B. Moore, C. W. G. Ayleu, E. B. Eyre, T. S. T. Eich, G. H. Younge, Arthur Barrow, Kdward Poneonby. Gunner W. A. Fullerton ; boatswain W. Pearco; carpenter—Kiehard Earl. TheGalateais about nine years old, having been built at Woolwioh in 1859. In 1862 she wascommisioned, and joined the Baltic squadron; she afterwards joined the Mediterranean fleet, and still later the West India station, where she bombarded the forts at Cape Haytien, after the blowing up of H.M.S. Bulldog. The Galatea wr.s paid off in 1866. Her first commander was the late Commodore (then Captain) Maguire, who succeeded Commodore Wiseman, on the Australian station, and died in 1867. The lion. Klliot Yorke and Lieutenant Haigh, i'.K., and Mr. Christie accompanied liis Boyal Highness on board the Galatea from Wellington. During the whole of yesterday a large number of boats, and the steamer Gemini, loaded with passengers, cruised round tho Galatea and Challenger. The latter vessel, which arrived in harbour early yesterday morning, brought up Commodore Lambert, and his Excellency Sir Georgo BoTen. Sir George landed about 10 o'clock yesterdny morning, and shortly afterwards had an interview with his Honor the Superintendent, when it was arranged that the landing should take place at eleven o'clock this morning. Public notiue?. were at once printed and posted to that effect, and a Qaxelte, which tvill be found in our advertising columns, wa3 published, containing a notice as to the levee, which will be held at 1 p.m. to-day. Bolays of workmen were employed all last night in completing the wharf decorations, &c, for this morning, and the progress made has been extremely rapid. The prospect of illuminations this evening is extremely good. Moat of the leading merchants and storekeepers have prepared . all kinds of elaborate devices, and flagstaff's are as.thick as " quills upon the &c." A strong force of Thames Volunteers arrived in town on Saturday night and yesterday, and about a thousand Europeans arrived from Shortland and Grahamstown on Saturday. Besides these, for some days the country people havo been drifting townwards, and their rosy cheeks' and elastic carriage has been very p&tent in contrast to the businessworn appearance of their less fortunate townbrethren. In the way of natives, there have, been Inrgo importations from the Thames, and tho Lalla Bookh will probably bring up a number from Coromandel to-day. Mis Hoyal Highness landed privately on Saturday evening, and attended tho Prince of Wnles Theatre. Yesterday morning his Honor, accompanied !>y the Provincial Secretary and Engiueer-in-Chief, received His Excellency at tho Wyny.ird Pier, and proceeded with him on board the Galatea, at ten o'cljck, and made final arrangements with his Boyal Highness as to the landing. They were accompanied ashore by the Duke, who proceeded to Government House, where he remained last night. Every effort was made by His Honor to give publicity to the new arrangements, and mounted messengers were dispatched to the surrounding districts, to give timely notice to outlying settlers. The following is tho order of procession arranged for to-day :— . Volunteer Cavalry, two files. Carriages of Clergy. Na'.ive Gniofe Mouuted. Fire Brigade. City i oarJ. Bositiont Magistrate. JudgOß of Nfttiro and Local Courts. Sheriff and Hogietrar of the Supreme Court. Oariiaoo vrith tho Chief Justioe and Commundor Of ° tho Forces. Volunteer Cavalry. Provincial Council. Speaker of Provincial Council. Doputy Superintendent. Carriage with the Superintendent and Members of Provincial Executive. S r Two Mounted Orderlies. f S •~ j Carriage containing -£ q j Hie Uoyal Highness I o -o J Tub Dukb or EDiinnrßaff, " -g ~ I The Governor and the Commodore. p § ! g « Governor's Carriage. 1.3 Mounted Orderlies. >, r Officcr3 of the Galatea, f'£ \ •§ Commanders of Ships ol War. "3 S Cabinet Ministers. g ■O Carriages of Consuls. . . ,_ S ' Members of General Assembly, ' j? Jj Hoception Committtee. e 2, GHinoral Government Officers. £ > (_ Provincial Government Officers. \.p* Volunteor'OaVilry, two tiles. Naval Band. Naval Brigade. Volunteer Band. liifla Volunteers. • • Otahuhu Cavalry, two files. Officers of Militia. Freemasons. Oildfollows. Foresters. . Heohabites. Other Friendly fooieties. Howiok Cavalry, two fllei. Waiubu Cavalry, two files. Private Carriages. Horsemen. Citizens, four abreast. In the evening bonfires will bo lighted by signal simultaneously upon Mount Victoria, Mount Edon, Mount St. John, Mount Hobson. During his stay in this port, which may possibly be until after the arrival of the English mail, his Boyal Highness will amuse himself as he thinkw proper, and no official programme of hie movements will be published. • t To-morrow, tho Prince will have a day s pheasantehooting. The neighbourhood is not decided upon. ■ In the evening of that day he will attend the Prince of Waloa Theatre in state, having beepoken a performaaoe, by letter, to MiM Clereland, " .

On the citizens* ball is to ..take«place..~v-_.~-^...^;_^» v ,, OTm^s^.^,_,w ,, :•, With regard to .the Thames.raeeif, arrangements have yet been made, but no doubt the day of the Duke's attendance 'there will be fired to-day or to-morrow. ' - i: " l .''■'■' ■. A company of the 18th Boyal Irish,- with a Qheen'a color,, and the Kegimental Band, are under orders to be present on Queen-street Wharf, thi3 mornirjg, at half-past eleven. The day is to be observed by the fiegimerit and the various military departments asa holiday.. The .John Penn brought up 600 passengers from the Thames last nigbt. The Superintendent, accompanied by the Provincial Secretary and .Engineer, will board the Galatea this morning, before ten o'clock. The Prince's Loaf will ■'proceed" from the Galatea to the Wharf, between a double line of vessels, a cable's length apart, extending from the landing place to the frigate. Arrangements respecting the position of vessels will be found in our advertising columns. The committee of the Choral Society have resolved to invite his Boyal Highness the Duke of Kdinburgh to attend one of the Society's concerts, and it is desirable that every member should be present. His Bojal Highness will be requested to name an evening for' the performance, of which due notice will be given by advertisement in the daily newspapers. ■ We hare previously announced that iVfrs. Robert Heir and her company are coming up from the Thames to perform at the Music Hall, under the patronage of the Duke, for one night. On another night the Hon. K. Yorke will perform the last three acts of Hamlet with Mrs Heir. Should the stage in the Ball-room at Government House prove large enough, the officers of the Galatea will probably give there a theatrical performance, consisting of a burlesque, entitled " Crossing the Line," written by Lieut. Poore, of the Marine Artillery, and " Still Waters Bun Deep." . ■ Volunteers are all to muster at the Drill Shed, at 9.30 this morning. " ' Special Constables are to muster at' the Station at 830 this morning. ' - • Carriages are! to be on the ground not later than a quarter-past ton, and aro to pass down Fort-street, cross Commeice-street, and up Customhouse-street. 'Ihe Foresters will assemble at the British Hotel, at 9 a.m., in full regalia, and the Odd Fellows of Lodge " Good Intent" et the Wheatsheaf Hotel, at 10 a.m.