WARSHIP SQUADRON ARRIVES

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 766, 15 March 1910, Page 6

WARSHIP SQUADRON ARRIVES

» — POWEBFFUL AND HER, CONSORTS. Threo warships arrived in port from Auckland a little after 9 o'clock yesterday morning, and took up an; anchorage in. tho stream.. The visitors are H.M.S. Powerful, flagship of the Australian Squadron, H.M.S. Challenger, and H.M;S. Pegasus. Stormy weather came to Wellington at the same time, as the warships, and while they swung at anchor in the stream a howling northerly, with great sheets of rain, blew across the harbour, but the visitors looked none the less imposing through it all, and the bluejackets, who donned'their oilskins for the occasion, seemed to heed not the elements as they plied to and from the vessels in the boats and launches. The flagship, which took up the usual anchorage, shifted her position late in the afternoon, when the wind changed to the south. The Powerful is to remain at Wellington about nine days, and will then sail for Lyttelton. Since her last visit to t&is port she has been fitted with' new coaling apparatus and a new crank shaft, and in addition she has a very up-to-date wireless installation. She was recommissioned on Feb-. ruary 12, and carries a number of new officers. The squadron flics the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Eichard Poore, K.C.P., C.V.0., his flag captain being Captain Cecil J. Prowse, of the Powerful. H.M.S. Challenger will sail from Wellington on Friday next for Sydney direct, where she will go into'dock. Slie is to rejoin the flagship at Hobart on April 12. H.M.S. Pegasus is also to proceed to Sydney from this port, but she will not. sail till two days after the Challenger. While she is in port H.M.S. x Challenger will take into her bunkers. 600 tons of Paparoa coal, which is coming from Westport in the Kamona.