NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 432, 30 May 1871, Page 2

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

ELM.'s Ship Meg^ha.—lt will be remembered that the Megsera was commisioned last month at Sheerness, to take fresh officers and crews to H.M.S. Blanche and Eosario, on the Australian station. She left Plymouth oh February 25, with 33 officers, 350 men, and 400 tons of stores, in addition to provisionsand stores for the use of the officers and men. during the voyage. Captain Thrupp, commanding the Megrera, on being ordered from Plymouth on the evening of the date above mentioned, finding the ship's decks very much lumbered in consequence of there not having been time to secure the baggage and stores taken on board at that port, and finding the barometer unsteady, notwithstanding the fair wind then blowing, went on shore and represented to the Coinmander-in-Chief, Admiral Codrington, that he did not think it judicious under the circumstances to proceed. to sea until the following morning, and asked permission so to act. The Admiral, however, put great pressure upon Captain Thrupp, referring to "their Lordships'" directions, and how displeased, " their Lordships" would be that the Megaera had not sailed, although in his letter to the Admiralty the Admiral somewhat jesuitically writes, " I may add that I did not give Captain Thrupp any order to sail on that evening, although I certainly advised him, as stated above," viz., how displeased their Lordships would be. The Megsera therefore sailed in the unprepared state represented by her captain; she met with heavy weather, began to leak', and had to put into Queenstown with a goodly portion of the stores aud officers' baggage spoiled, but lucky to have reached that port without any more, serious mishap. There cannot, however, bo a doubt that Admiral Sir Henry Codringfcon was not justified in allowing the Megsera to proceed to sea with a.beavy gale of wind blowing. The alterations which hare been made at Queenstown, and which are very slight, will enable her to proceed to her destination without any further discomfort to those on board. The Megsera sailed from Queenstown for her destination on March 14. It will not surprise, our naval readers, although we should think it would the general public, when we inform inform them that the acknowledgment Captain Thrupp received from the Admiralty for having simply done his duty was " disapproval of his proceedings," and that serious thoughts were even entertained by •" my Lords" as to whether he should not be superseded from his command. The Megsera has sailed, and we heartily wish her a successful and prosperous voyage.— European Mail.

The Challenger, 18, 1,462 tons, 490-horse power, Captain E. Lambert, C.8., recently returned from the Australian station, has been paid off at Sheerness. The ship is to be brought forward for sea again immediately. The screw frigate Bristol, Captain the i£on. H\ Carpenter, training ship for naval cadets, having been inspected at Spithead by the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir James Hope, X.C.8., is about to leave on her experimental cruise, which is expected to extend to Australia.

The following circular has been forwarded to the respective Governors of the Pacific Colonies :— (Departmental Circular), Downingstreet, 15th March, 1871.—My Lord, —The Secretary of State for War has informed mo that, as her Majesty's troops have been withdrawn from the Pacific Colonies, he does not' consider that it would be expedient to claim for further services any men who may be iv such colonies in a state of desertion from their regiments. It will, therefore, be unnecessary to take any steps for the apprehension of such men in the colony under your G-overnment. I have, &c, KiMBESLEr.