NEWS FROM THE NIMROD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 443, 5 December 1908, Page 3

NEWS FROM THE NIMROD.

By Carrier Pigeon.

Christchurch, December 4.

The Nimrod took with her several homing pigeons from the Lyttelton Times loft. One returned yesterday. It was sent away when the vessel was 90 milts at sea, and at daylight this morning a second bird arrived. It was despatched from the steamer yesterday in lat. 46 sohth, long. 172.3 east. The message reads : “Fine weather and light winds continued since leaving; all well ; satisfactory progress; ship’s company appreciate the kindness of the send-off.—-E. P. Evans, master.’’ The steamer, when the message was despatched, was about ten miles south of Dunedin and eighty miles off the shore.

The Departure. Christchurch Truth thus ‘describes the Nimrod’s departure from Lyttelton-The rush and bustle and excitement of the preparations for sailing at last came to an end. The ship’s bell rang vigorously, warned all friends to get ashore. Then came final partings and hand-shakings and wishes for a safe voyage and safe return. The gang-way was taken aboard, the mooring ropes were “singledup ” and the Nimrod was held to the mooring posts by a single line forward and another aft. Tne wharf, from its outer end to the stern of the Nimrod, was a solid square of people, the fair sex predominating. On the other side lay the Challenger, and over against the pier lay H. M.S. Pegasus, her forecastle head also crowded. Both cruisers were “raiubowed” with strings of gaudy flags, all the letters of the international code and many private naval flags fluttered in the light uor’-easter. The merchantmen in port were also dressed with flags. The tug-boat Canterbury, lying immediately astern of the Nimrod, was crowded with the guests of the Harbour Board aud the friends of the crew of the Nimrod. Punctuality marked the departure of the little vessel. At a minute to the half-hour Captain Evans made a sign to the second mate, who, with a wave of his arm, gave the signal to “let go aft,” aud in a few moments the vessel had started on her eventful voyage. As the Nimrod steamed along the whart the Challenger’s band commenced with “ The girl I left behind me,” and then followed hearty cheers from the assembled hundreds. The familiar strains of “ Auld Lang Syne” floated across the widening space of water to those on board the Nimrod, aud as the last note died away there came cheers from the bluejackets swarming on the Challenger aud Pegasus. The Nimrod’s men sprang , on to her rails aud into the rigging, and with caps waving vigorously, cheered in response to the farewell of the crowd on the wharf apd of the bluejackets. As the Nimrod was clearing the wharl one of her crew, shouting farewell to his friend, tossed his cap high into the air. It fell on the wharf and was quickly snapped up by a by-stander. The cheering over, the baud on the Challenger played the National Anthem, and men bared their heads. The sailors on the Nimrod sang “We parted on the shore ” as their ship steamed slowly through the water to the moles. “ Goodbye and good luck” fluttered in flags from the signal halyards of the Challenger aud the Pegasus and T.D.L. —“ wish you a pleasant voyage,” floated from the signal station above the Sumner road- X.O.R. —“ Thank you”— fluttered the reply from the Nimrod as she quickened her pace. The tug ranged up on the port side of the Nimrod and the steamer Purau, with a goodly number of people aboard, steamed abreast of her on the star board side. As the little Nimrod steamed out of port, with her black hull deep in the water, the opinion was generally expressed that she would be a very wet ship on deck even in a moderate sea. T.D.L. —“Wish you a pleasant voyage ” —fluttered from the flagstaff on Port Jervois as the Nimrod came abreast of the island, and from a corner of the Sumner road came a cheer from a group of children. ‘ ‘ Thank you, ’ ’ signalled the Nimrod as she slipped past. Camp Bay came abeam, and half a mile ahead lay H.M.S. Powerful, flagship of Vice-Admiral Poore. The big grey ship riding quietly to her anchor was rainbowed with flags and presented a splendid picture. The Nimrod drew abreast of the great cruiser and dipped her ensign. “ Hip, Hip ” could be faintly heard, and then came a roaring “ Hurran ” from 860 throats —four times repeated as with one voice the Powerful’s men gave their splendid farewell to the Nimrod. The Nimrod’s men—few in numberreplied with three hearty cheers, and then the Powerful’s fine band played “The Girl I Left Behind Me” and “Auld Lang Syne.” The big white ensign floating over her stern rail dipped ii) response to the Nimrod’s flag,\ and the signal “Good-bye and gcs)d luck ” fluttered from her signal halyards. Then the tug, /steaming quickly shot ahead anil across the track of the Nimjrod, and headed back up the karbour. H.P.Z.—“ Good-bye,” wa£ flying from her mast, and her company gave three rousing cheers ‘for the Nimrod’s men, who replied \n like manner. The little ship forgedVhead quite alone, heading for opet| sea. She cleared the Heads at 4.351 p.m. and an hour later was abreast at Pigeon Bay, still under steam. She was lost to sight at dus%, the wind being " then s E.N.E.i which

would enable her to use her sails with advantage once she was well clear of the Peninsula, and heading “southward ho.” The tug steamed back up the harbour and stopped in Diamond Harbour, where afternoon tea was served, and finally returned to the wharf a few minutes before five o’clock. Everything passed off without a hitch, and the Nimrod commenced her voyage under the most favourable auspices. The cheering thousands of last New Year's Day and the procession of crowded steamers down the harbour were missing, but the “ send off ” yesterday was none the less hearty, although the crowd present numbered only as many hundreds as there were thousands on January ist. *