OUR AMATEUR DEFENCE FORCE IN WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7960, 2 September 1887, Page 3

OUR AMATEUR DEFENCE FORCE IN WELLINGTON.

THE VAGARIES OF A TORPEDO

NABBOW ESCAPE FOB THE GOVEBNOB.

Thbbb is a story obtaining currency just now in Wellington, which brings before the mind a possibility happily escaped, but M still frightful to contemplate." The Auokland Herald correspondent in Wellington wires :— On Friday last the pretty and innocent-looking torpedo boat, which lies moored opposite the torpedo sheds, next the Kaiwarra Road, went out for practice. I saw her go from her moorings and glide gracefnlly down the harbour. Shortly afterwards a select party, consisting of the Defence Department officials, two Ministers, and His Excellency, followed in the Government launch to witness the performance. Everything was in order ; the weather was splendid. Nothing remarkable occurred until the party of observation wsb opposite the Kaiwarra battery, the torpedo boat lying close in to the fort, and the launoh being under easy gteaai some five hundred yardß away. Presently it was seen that the men on board the gunboat were ready. "They will present and fire presently," said a witty gentleman of the party.

" BTOP HEB !"

To the astonishment of those on board the little gunboat steamed off for a spin on her own -account, for it was observed that there was considerable commotion on board. " Ease her," " stop her," bnt the torpedo boat would not " ease," neither would she "stop." She seemed at last to tack about like a sailing craft. There was a ground swell in the harbour, and the little demon began to ricochet like a oinnon ball, as if she had become independent of all handling. It appeared as if those on board had managed to put her on the opposite tack ; it was also observed that the little monitor was evidently runing away from her managers — that, like a bucking horse, she had the bit between her teet*>. Her bow was turned straight on the launch. There she was " ducking along," as if goir? for the commander of the forces, who was anxiously watching her movements. She was evidently going for the Government steamer and all thereon..

AH ANXIOUS MOMENT.

The party on board the launch behaved with great sang froid. His Excellency himself experienced the sense of danger when be saw the gunboat tearing along, nothing being able to stop her. The rest of the party, I am told, formed themselves in a queue behind His Excellency and the Commander of the Forces. Was there a torpedo attached which would explode with the collision ? They did not know, but she came along with her " ram " like a knife cutting tha water, and likely to strike the launch amidships. It was an anxious moment, although now.the gentlemen present can afford to remember it was a pleasurable excitement. The man on board kept roaring out, but no one could understand him. 11)6 man at the helm of the launch was almost petrified with the sense of fear. Wonderful to relate, the torpedo was brought to a stand, her ram being just six inches from the side of the launch.

"You were near being blown to atoms," I said to my informant. "Well," was the reply, "smithereens would be a paving stone to the little bits that would be left of us."