DEPARTURE OF H.M. SHIPS CURACOA AND ECLIPSE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2430, 20 October 1866, Page 6

DEPARTURE OF H.M. SHIPS CURACOA AND ECLIPSE.

The good old Curngoa has left for England, and with her and Commodore Sir William Wiseman go tho best wishes ofthe people of Auckland-— and the Eclipse also has gone, after having done good service. She carries many svrnpathies with 'her, and hopes for the welfare of those on board. After a stay of more than four years on the Australian station, aud after participating in all the hardships and dangers of the NewZealand war, these ships, and the gallant officer who for so long has commanded the squadron, could not leave without calling up the warmest feelings of interest on the part ofthe oolonists.

Aud another cause exi?ted for wishing the Curagoa'' God speed." Lady Wiseman had, from the graceful manner in which she displayed the hospitality of Admiralty House, and from her kindliness of heart, won the affections ol the Auckland people, who will miss her from among them, now that she has gone. Not only as a war ship did the Curagoa leave the station. She carried with her much that will interest the scientific world at home. During tho whole cruise Sir W. Wiseman had beeu assiduous in collecting specimens to illustrate his voyage, and to add to the collections of the museums at home. On board were illustrative sketches of the several islands and places visited, with scientific accounts of tho various localities. Drawings also wero obtained of the various places in the Waikato and elsewhere, made celebrated by the actions of the troops and the Naval Brigado, which Sir William Wiseman commanded with so much credit; and success. Carefully berthed in pens and cages were various specimens of the more rare of the Australian birds, including the bronzewinged pigeon, the native companion, a varied collection of parrot and lory, with a peculiar wading bird of North Australia. The mooruk, a species of dinornis, also, from the Solomon Islands, was on board, and seemed, all things considered, to be reconciled to foreign travel. About one p.m., the ships having already hove short, begau to " heave round" to get their anchors, and the Eclipse was very shortly underweigh ready to follow the flagship. The first signal of tho departure, to the uninitiated in naval affairs, was the mauning of the rigging on board the Esk, and "hanck, cheer ships," which was heard with the boatswain's whistle of thafc craffc. In an instant the rigging of thafc ship was manned by the bluejackets, and, at the moment of the Curagoa leaving her berth, three ringing cheers were given to tho old ship and her crew. The appearance of the Curagoa afc this time was particularly beautiful. The vessel — always, from her graceful line and symmetrical spars and rigging, a model of what a British frigate should be — the vessel, we say, never looked better. In the most perfect order, for her homeward voyage, and leaving the harbor on a clear sunny day, and from the midst of a well-appointed squadron, she looked the beau ideal of an English frigate. At the peak and each mast-head was either the ensign, tho jack, or the Commodore's pennant; the rigging was manned; each masthead bore its occupant : and from each yardarm wared a flag, borne by some topman who had taken ifc in the Waikato campaign, or by some coxswain of a galley who had won it during some more peaceable regatta race. The Eclipse was loudly cheered on passing the various ships. Many of the officers and men of the Esk and Falcon had been wifch the Curagoa's and Eclipse's serving on shore, or wifch the Naval Brigade ; and they heartily cheered their comrades who were leaving for tbe old country. Various momentoes, too, wore left behind ; ono we ourselves saw. A midshipman of the Curagoa gave to au old friend the flag of his gun-boat, one of the craft that were taken from Auckland, on wheels, to the Waikato, and there did service afc Meremere and Raogiriri I—a1 — a momeuto more valuable, from association, ho could not havo left behind him. At the last cheer, a perfect shower of hats (an invariable custom, we believe) were sent from the rigging of the Curagoa, overboard. From the masthead, too, was thrown, according to usage, the cock. A raco took place amongst fche boats of fche squadron to obtain the bird, and it had scarcely fluttered into the water ere ifc was seized by fche bowman of the captain's galley of the Falcon, and carried on board thafc ship — an earnest of rare good luck. This little incident caused renewed cheering, wifch " One cheer more for the lady passengers home," from the Falcon ; and the two vessels steamed away down the harbor. On the fore, main, and mizen-truck of each was a bluejacket : ho on the foretruck of tho Eclipse (the boatswain, we are told) disdaining to hold on by the spindle, but standing erect and waving his hat and hands to the ship left behind. And such is the character of tho bluejackets of our navy. We have seen thorn — we speak personally — iv the foremast of " the thick of it" in some ofthe best of the Waikato and Taranaki actions, as well as iv the dull drudgery of the transport of guns and stores to the front ; and they did their duty cheerfully — as cheerfully as they now waved adieu to our harbor, on their happy homeward voyage. But they leave many behind them ! In th© Churchyards afc Rangiriri, at Taranaki, and at Tauranga are the silent graves of those who fell " foremost fighting." And the ships that bore them and their comrades leave their remains to our trust in the country thoy fought for. The Challenger, the new flag-ship of Commodore Rochforfc McGuire, had a great display of bunting, with the telegraphed signal, "Farewell, pleasant passage," hoisted. The ofcher vessels of the squadron had the signal, '•'Farewell," flying. The guns of Forfc Britomart firod a salute,- and the Curagoa and Eclipse sped on their homeward voyages. Southern Cross.