THE FLAGSHIP ORLANDO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9287, 24 August 1893, Page 5

THE FLAGSHIP ORLANDO.

0$ the loth inst., H.M.s. Orlando, the flagship of the Australasian station, arrived at Sydney from Brisbane. In the course of an interview with a representative. of the Sydney Morning Herald, His Excellency said that the Citraeoa had just retiitned from a special mission to the Island*, and had proclaimed a British protectorate over those islands in the Solomon Group outsida the limits of German influence. The Curacoa will come down to Sydney at the end of this month. The Ringdove should be here about the middle of September from th< Islands. She was despatched from Auckland to investigate matters relating to the seizure and retention of a New Zealand vessel named the Nerval by the natives of Penrhyn Island. The Rapid has been on special set vice, with Sir.lohn B. Thurston on board, to the Ellice and Gilbert Groups. While at Auckland the Kafcoomba was sent to Samoa, and arrived there in time to take measures in concert, with the German ships to prevent bloodshed between the natives. With regard to the Orlando's trip, the Admiral said departure from Sydney was taken on .June 3rd last, and Wellington was made the first port of call. A fortnight was spent there, and the ship proceeded north to Auckland, where a considerable stay was made. From there the cruiser | called in at Russell, Bay of Islands* and came thence to Sydney, via Moreton Bay. It was intended to have included Fiji, New Caledonia, and the Tongan Group in the cruise, but measles broke out in New Zealand. Two of the ship's company were attacked, and all New Zealand ports were treated as infected by the port authorities in Fiji. Had the Orlando, therefore, gone there, she would have had .to undergo quarantine, and the authorities at the islands were very strict in the matter, th«i disease having once proved dreadfully fatal among the natives. It was thus decided' to abandon the Island visit for the present. Between New Zealand and Queensland the weather met with by the flagship was stormy; but from Moreton Bay to Sydney lb was fine. On the run down the coast a full speed trial took place lasting four hours, and the Orlando maintained for that period an hourly speed of 17 knots. Regarding the prevalence of measles in New Zealand, Hit Excellency mentioned bhab he yesterday received a letter from Lord Glasgow, inform-' ing him thab four of his children had been attacked by the malady. The flagship will remain at Sydney for five or six weeks, probably, and then go round to Melbourne and Adelaide.