A SEA PAGEANT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4953, 30 August 1887, Page 4

A SEA PAGEANT.

At the review by the Queen of the home section of iho English navy on July iJO, thoro were 20 armoured ships, 9 unarmoured ships, 3 torpedo cruisers, 1 torpedo gunboat, 33 first-class torpedo boats, 38 gunboats, 12 troopships, 1 pacldlo frigate, and 0 training vessels. The vessels wore plac?d in line early in the morning. Thoro was every form of modern naval aiolikocUire, placed in contrast with hullo and ancient vessels of the past, which were moored in Porl.ssnouth harbor. Two vessels which attracted nioro attention than all the now vessels were the gigantic four-deckers Duke of Wellington and Victory, the two remaining ships of Nelson's old fleet. All the vceseb were covered with Hags from stem to stern. Tho Queen did not louvo the Isle ot Wight until about 3 o'clock. 'Jhc.ro were thro royal yachts, and a little pilot vessel lead ing the way. Tho Queen sit under a while awning, with only two or three ladies near her. She was in black, wiiha black bonnet trimmed with whi o lace. The royal yachts were followed by sieimera curying members of the House of Parlhiii'-nt and 'their families, and then came two others carrying tho Indian Princes ;mci the Ili^'ii Admiralty officers. It was a fplendid spectacle wlu,n the r.yal yachts turned and passed, down the line of these magnificent warships. All of the ports of tho war vessels were open, and steel-mount d cannon showed from every opening. Tho flying flaga and die colours of the graceful ships made a naval picture to gladden tho heart of a sailor, but <f tho lmij.* line roviewed, only one-halt" are now up fr> modern requirements. Change is the Older of the clay. The great Agincouit, with ho.v displacement of 10,000 tons, costiug over £•1110,000, is now considered second-class in rank. Interest on tho part of naval men \3 now concentrated on tho torpedo boats and swift steel cruiaoM. At tho close cf tho review tho Queen received on her yacht all of the commanders of the vessels of tho fleet. In tho evening Portsmouth was abluzj with illuminations, and gleaming cite trie lights illuminated every stick and spar of tho fleet. Tho day and evening made the brightest and most interesting pictures of tho Jubilee coremonies.