THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.

Southland Times, Issue 759, 4 December 1867, Page 2

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.

By the arrival of the steamers Gothenburgh and Tararua, from Melbourne, we are placed in possession of late Australian files. The Melbourne papers are taken up with accounts of the festivities in connection with his Royal Highness's visit. He arrived in Hobson's Bay on the 24th, and made his public entry into Melbourne on the" 25th. ARBIVAIi AT HOBSON'S BAT. The following condensed report of the Duke's proceedings is taken from the Argus of the 25th, 26th, and 28th :— The Argus of the 25th devotes six columns to the arrival of His Royal Highness at Hobson's Bay. The following are the principal items : — The colonial war steamer, the Victoria, with the Governor, Ministers and other high functionaries, left Hobson's Bay at 9 o'clock a.m. The day was somewhat | windy. Because of the weather the Victoria shifted her ground, and steaming round under Point Nepean, took up a position near the Quarantine station, and the B.s. Barwon, which arrived in the night, lay waiting to take her place in the procession. There was nothing to do but to look for the signal that the Galatea was in sight, and for the steamers that were to join in the escort. This was dreary work ; nor did the moment of wild excitement which accompanied the capture of a too hungry dog-fish by the late Minister of Justice last long enough to allay the general feeling. Ten o'clock came and no G-alatea. At half-past ten something like a steamer was seen from the mast-head in the distance, and the smoke of other steamers loomed on the northern horizon. At eleven a.m. fidgeting sensibly increased, while fortunately the wind as steadily abated. The Victoria was completely ready, not a pin was out of place, and she was dressed in flags fore and aft. At no moment ware there less than a dozen glasses, covering the Point Lonsdale flag-staff. At last, at fifteen minutes past eleven a.m.,, the wished-for signal was given from the outer lighthouse. The news quickly spread, and the lighthouses and flagstaff at Queenscliff were in a moment afterwards streaming with gay-colored bunting. From where the Victoria lay | nothing could be seen beyond the Heads, and for twenty minutes there was no sign. The Governor was the first to discern smoke behind the ridge of high land which bounded the vision to the south, and then tall masts appeared, and every one made sure that there was no steamer but the Galatea whose spars could show to such a height. A few seconds settled the question. It was the Galatea, and as she steamed through the Heads she looked what she was — the finest specimen of marine architecture that ever entered our waters. Her massive hull loomed large, ; stately, and with a sort of majestic grace, the effect of which was heightened "by her taunt masts, straight as arrows, her rigging taut and trim, and her line of white ports, beneath which the modern dogs of war protruded their terrible mouths. Not a sail waa set, and nothing moved amid her yards and spara, but a white ensign, indicative of the admiral of the white, to whose aquadron she belonged, the thin folds of smoke from her two funnels, and snow-white wreaths of steam from her escape-pipe. An universal sentiment of admiration pervaded the beholders on board the Victoria, whose yards were by this time manned in honor of the new arrival ; but the Galatea made no sign as she moved slowly, and with a sort of conscious grandeur into Port Phillip Bay. A puff of white smoke and a distant boom then announced the first Royal saluto given from the shore battery at Queenscliff, by the local corps, under the command of Captain Snee ; but still our visitor lay silent and stilL Then the Victoria thundered out her salute with yards still manned. It was given with admirable rapidity in three and a half minutes, but the Galatea, now hove to, answered not a shot. It may be supposed that the Admiralty regulations were strictly complied with, but it seemed strange that the man-of-war should keep so cold and grim. Then the men came down from the Victoria's yards, and with commendable swiftness the pinnace was lowered and manned with a dozen stout oarsmen, and Commander Norman and Lieutenant Roth well, the Governor's aide-de-camp, taking their seats in the stern, were rowed with all speed to the Royal vessel. But now the Galatea and Victoria were not alone. The steamers from Melbourne began to arrive to form the escort, and the air was darkened by their smoke. Pirst came the little Government tug, the George Rennie, glorified with flags, her narrow decks crowded, and she, steaming under the Galatea's stern, her passengers cheering with all their might, received the first civility from the visitor, who dipped her ensign. The s.s. Express got the next dip, and the Victoria the third, whereat her passengers aboard rejoiced exceedingly. Other steamers came up in quick succession ; the Aldinga, crowded with members of Parliament and their friends, her band playing loyal tunes and her passengers cheering lustily ; the Coorong, the City of Melbourne, the Southern Cross, the Tasmania, the Derwent, with many others nameable and unnameable; and, not least, the Hero, her decks and rigging one jam and crush of people, whose deafening hurrahs seemed to rend the air. Then the Victoria's pinnace was seen to return. What had passed was this. Captain Norman had been introduced at once to His Royal Highness, whom he asked to allow his vessel to be escorted to Hobson's Bay by the steamers which had come, and those which were coming. The Prince said he would willingly do so, but that he was hurried to get to hia anchorage j and he asked whether Captain Norman brought any addresses? Then it c»me out that the eager foih of Qiwwisdfff h*4 ta<j

what they had threatened— had gone on board the Galatea and presented their address. What reply they actually received was not known then, but it seems that the Prince was annoyed at the untimely intrusion, and did not si-ruple to tell Captain Norman that he did not want any more addresses just then, having to attend to the navigation of his ■hip. However, the prince said he would wait awhile for the escort, and also ex- . pressed himself happy to receive His Excellency. The governor and suite then proceeded on board the Galatea. By this time the escorting steamers were crowding round, and there was fast and furious signalling for some time. Then j the pinnace of the Victoria again started for the Galatea, Captain Norman accompanying the Vice-regal party. The Eoyal steamer lay impressive and mute, not a man visible on her decks, save a marine standing sentry, three or four officers on her quarter-deck, and two figures on her bridge ; but as His Excellency approached, there came suddenly a salute of seventeen guns, each fired at intervals of five seconds, with a rapidity that made one wink. Before she had "Well done, the little Pharos, blazing with flags and her decks black with passengers, came up, and with yards manned, fired off her salute with creditable speed and regularity. It was not long before Captain Norman returned without His Excellency, and then began the work of getting the escort into order. First came the signalling. It was not easy to see which was which, but we could make out enough to say that besides the steamers we have named, there were the Tararua, Gothenburg, Edina, Bangatira, You Tangs, Resolute, Titian, Bendigo, Aldinga, Coorong, Barwon, Derwent, Hero, Southern Cross, Tasmanian, City of Adelaide, &c. In the meantime, the Victoria steamed close under the stern of the Galatea. A nearer view only increased the sentiment of admiration already formed. This was a vessel of war indeed, so serviceable, so clean, .so neat, and so ready did she look. The Prince stood on the bridge, scarcely distinguishable save by the four stripes on his arm, and his occasionally raising his cap ' to acknowledge the cheering. In a few minutes more all was in order ; the Galatea, greeted with sounding cheers and dipping ensigns, steamed majestically through the lines, and the "whole fleet commenced the homeward trip along the Southern Channel. The wind had partially subsided, the sun had come out, and the spectacle became very interesting. While in this order, the spires of Melbourne and the masts of the ships at anchor loomed through the haze, and the fleet entered Hobson's Bay. We are not going to decide whether or not there was too great an enthusiasm in the proceedings which accompanied the conclusion of the Royal welcome. Such great marks of respect, it may be said, should only be paid to the Queen herself ; but be that as it may, the spectacle was a very effective one. A fleet worth nearly half a million of money, and carrying 5,000 or 6,000 passengers, had , come out to meet the Prince, and as the | shore came more and more into view, it , was lined with black-looking masses of , people, each of whom seemed to have a • voice to cheer with or a handkerchief to j wave, The buildings appeared, even in j the dim distance, to have lines and dots of color, caused by the innumerable flags, and | the ships and boats, large and small, seemed to have flags fastened to every rope and ■ corner where they could be displayed. The ( air was filled with faint echoes of cheer- ■ ing, and when the Galatea cast anchor out- , side of thebreakwater . she was instantly surrounded by a cloud of small sailing crafts ; whose passengers and crew cheered again < and again, as they went under her stern. ] The major part of the escort was now 1 pretty close up, and, wrapped in smoke 1 and steam, waited to get near. Then ] came salutes from shore. The Williamstown battery fired hers, and shortly after [ a series of white puffs announced that the ] Sandridge battery was at the same work, j The Victoria, with the other vessels of ] the escort half a cable's length off, next , cast anchor, and manning her yards, , fired a salute, the Galatea dipping her < ensign in return. The little Pharos next i fired off another salute, and then the , crew of the Victoria filling her rigging, ; gave cheers three times three. The other steamers followed suit, andas they steamed , under the Galatea's stern, her ensign ■> dipped her acknowledgements. Finally, . it must have been found next to im- ( possible to acknowledge each compliment. : The crowd of vessels, large and small, thickened round the visitor, and the . rush of passengers to one side of the decks made some to heel over dangerously. These loyal demonstrations lasted till nearly sundown. Shortly before seven p.m., His Excellency the Governor and suite returned from the Galatea to the Victoria in the Prince's own gig. We learned afterwards that the Prince had decided to remain on board his vessel till Monday, and also that he had been delighted with his reception. Gratifying as it is to know that our little exertions have not been in vain, ifc must be owned that, if he had felt otherwise than he did, he mu&t have been hard to please.