The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1869. DEPARTURE OF H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 92, 21 April 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1869. DEPARTURE OF H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

At 10 o'clock last night the Prince aud Governor with their suites, accompanied by ; B('.vem\ members of the Reception Committee, left Panama Honse for the wharf, where the steamer Lady Barkly was in -waiting to convoy them on board the (jjrnlaten. A large- crowd had assembled on tho wharf to b.id farewell to H.R.H., and on his stepping on board the steamer, three hearty cheers were given ,foF.;him, and three more for His Excellency .: --/the Governor..; "'"blue. lights, were burnt on ;\.the; whari',. and the different vessels in -harbour,, rockets were fi-ed from the ship ■ SJariuy, which w.-re replied to by magnificeut fireworks on board the G-alatea, i. : arid -thus deofir 'ted from our shore the r."s9yal personage \vhos3 visit has' so long ■■■f&txd', sq ": eagerly: been looked forward to, l^goji lw\\o 'has bj:bis coyrfcesy aud amiability 14^^n7^p|dien. i.Qpigiioas from all. with whom li^fi^i£^#e^' ■:' -:: : ; , ■"■■ .;:';.?•'- •.::■■.•■"■ '.'■'..

he lias come in contact. We believe thaj the Prince will carry with him most favorable impressions of his visit to Nelson, for whilst every arrangement was mado for his amusement, he has at the same time been permitted to enjoy himself quietly, and in accordance with his own desires, he has moved about amongst us as one of ourselves, and lias been suffered to do so without beiug mobbed or stared at as though he were a wild beast, and such conduct we are sure has been thoroughly appreciated by him. It had been announced that the Galatea was to bo illuminated at th-3 moment when her royal captain arrived on board, and those who were at the port to see him start, eagerly watched the lights on board the Lady Barkly t as she steamed to the anchorage. Just as she reached the ship's side, the noble vessel shone out in one blaze of light from stem to stern, from the hull to the royal yards she instantaneously became a mass of blazing bluo lights; as we stood on the wharf, some four miles from this brilliant illumination we could trace the whole form of the ship: masts, yards, and ringing, all were plainly discernible, lighted up as they were by the hundreds of lights that had so suddenly appeared, and which, after burning steadily for some three or four minutes, as suddenly disappeared. Thus it was that we had our last view of the Ga'atea. We have heard so many enquiries made as to how it is contrived that the lights shall appear so instan taneousty, that we may state for the information, of our readers, that it is Hone by manning the yards, each man having in his bund a percussion blue light, which Ht the word of command, are all struck at the same moment, thus producing the beautiful effect we have attempted to describe.