A SEA PAGEANT. A Splendid Spectacle at Spithead. The Queen Passes between Lines of Formidable War Vessels.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 217, 27 August 1887, Page 7

A SEA PAGEANT. A Splendid Spectacle at Spithead. The Queen Passes between Lines of Formidable War Vessels.

The Queen reviewed the homo section of the English navy at Spithead on July 23 between the Isle of Wight and tho Hampshire coast. One hundred and thirby-f our pennants were flown in the fleet of the vessels reviewed. There were twenty-six armoured ships, nine unarmoured ships, three torpedo crusiers, one torpedo gunboat, one gun torpedo vessel, thirty-eight first-class torpedo boats, thirty-eight gunboats, twelve troopships, one paddle frigate, and six training brigs. There wore 20,200 officers and men in the crews of the vessels on exhibition. There were also a number of special vessels for the accommodation of officials and invited guests. The vessels to be reviewed wero placed in line early in the morning. One of them lay along the Isle of Wight, while the otheis were in a parallel line just off Hampshire. The vessels reviewed were about a quarter of a mile apart. The day was absolutely perfect. Although it was warm, there was a fresh breeze blowing all day. There was every form of modern naval architecture, placed in contrast with hulks and ancient vessels of

the past, which were moored in Portsmouth harbour. Two vessels which attracted more attention, perhaps, than all of the new vessels, were the gigantic four-deckers, Duke of Wellington and Viet jry, the two remaining ships of Nelson's old fleet. The Victory, which was his flagship, is still in good condition. It was thought best at one tinw" to have these historical vessels in the parade. There was a marked contrast between these two high-storiod wooden vessels and the low-built iron monsters of torpedo boats which dashed about the harbour, running at the speed of eighteen and twenty miles an hour. These boats ran about the harbour looking 1 for all the world like amphibious creatures, so low did they lie in the water. Any of these vicious, swiftrunning crafts, small as they are, would be sufficient to destroy in a few moments any vessel of the character of the Victory. The vessels reviewed were covered with flags from stem to stern. Back of them, along the Isle of Wight, were innumerabl pleasure crafts. Along the Hampshire coast wore excursion steamers and the groat vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental line, which brought the people down from London for the sum of £7, and gave them a dinner and a night's lodging, remaining for the illuminations. The Queen did not leave Isle of Wight until about three o'clock. There were three royal yachts. Theie was a little pilot vessel leading tho way. Then came the Queen's yacht, thrt of the Prince of Wales, and then tho yacht assigned to the German Crown Prince. Tho royal yachts had two smoke-stacks, painted yellow, and three masts, all white. Eacli were side-wheel steamers. The Queen sat aft under a white awning, with only two or throe ladies near her. She was in black, with a black bonnet trimmed with white lace. Slio wore black glove?-, and held in her hand a green .sun umbrella. The Prince of Wales on his yacht wore for the first time the uniform of bib now office of Admiral. The loyal yachts were followed by the Euphrates, carrying members of the House of Lords and their families, and tho Crocodile, carrying members of the House of Commons. At her heels came two others cari'ying the Indian Princes and the High Admiralty officers. The yards of all of the fleet in review were manned with sailors half an hour before the royal yacht; were started. These men stood so still that at the immense height at which they were perched they looked like toy sailors. It was a splendid spectacle when the royal yachts turned and passed down the line of these magnificent warships. All of the ports of the war vessels were open, and steel-mouthod cannon showed from every opening. Tho flying flags and the colours of the graceful ships made a naval pictm-e to gladden the heart of a sailor, but of ths long line reviewed, only one-half are now up to modern requirements. Change is the order of tho clay. The great. Agincourt, m ith her displacement of 10,000 tons,costing ove. % L 400,000, is now considered second cla>>s in rank. Interest upon the part of naval men i» now concentrated on the torpedo boats and swift steel cruisers. At the clo^e of tho review the Queen received on her yacl.fc all of the commander.-* of the vessels of the fleet. This evening Portsmouth is ablaze with illuminations.and gleaming electric lights illuminate every stick and spar of the fleet. The day and evening has made the brightest and most interesting picture of the Jubilee ceremonies.