CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 125, 27 May 1878, Page 4

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE.

[From the **' Dally Telegraph," Jan. 2?.] In the teeth of some very adverse prognostications, and in spite of one most serious and deplorable contretemps, the cylinder ship to which the celebrated Egyptian obeliek was entrusted has at last arrived io London The abandonment of the Needle in the Bay of Biscay, on October 14, and tbe unfortunate loss of life by which the circumstance waa accompanied must be fresh in every memory. Equally notorious is the fact that the queer-shaped ship w&s discovered shortly after its supposed loss ia an almost unimpaired condition, and towed into the harbor of Ferrol, a seaport town on 'the northwestern coast of Spain. In the haven where she had found such opportune shelter, the Cleopatra remained until Jan. 15, when, io accordance with an agreement entered into between Mr John Dixon aud Mr Wm. Watkinp owner of the Channel tug.Angelia, she' left these shores in the wake of the last-named vessel. The two crafts, under the direction of Capiain Carter and Navigating Captain John Tracey* appear to have been very fortunate with regard to tbe weather, and yesterday they both arrived in tbe Thames in as good conditiou a3 when they quitted Ferrol. The whole space of time between the departure and the arrival of the ships speaks of nothing but cloudless skies and smooth seas. The vessels started at 35 minutes past seven o'clock on Tuesday, nnd at 10 o'clock yesterday morniag they arrived at Gravesend, where the Cleopatra was moored to a buoy and boarded by Mr Dixon, the enterprisiug contractor to whose ingenuity the safe arrival of the monolith is mainly due. On one occasion during the transit, it blew freshly from the east, and then the Cleopatra pitched heavily. It was also sometimes found difficult to steer her properly, especially when in smooth water. At one, yesterday, the Angelia, with the obelisk in tow, left Gravesend for Blackwall. In the meantime Mr Dixon had received a gracious message from her Majesty the Queen, expressing her great gratification at tbe safe arrival of the Needle On their way up the river the steamer and her stra.ge-looking consort attracted a good deal of attention. By five o'clock the steamer was mooreJ in tbe East India Dock, where a large number of people were anxiously awuiting ber arriva. Io this harbor of refuse tbe Needle will probably remain for some time, for up to the present do decision has been come to as to the spot definitely selected for its erection. The question of salvage raised by the owners of tho Fitzmaurice, the ship tbat picked up the Cleopatra in the Bay of Biscay, has been fixed hy the Lords of the Admiralty at £2000.