H.M.S. NELSON IN HORSON's BAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 293, 25 August 1888, Page 3

H.M.S. NELSON IN HORSON's BAY.

H.M.s. Nelson has encountered more perils during her short exhibition visit to J Hobson's Bay than it has ever been hoy \ fate to meet from shot or shell pr " villainous saltpetre " since the day she was launched, How she managed to get into the bay is not recoided. But her struggles and adventures in getting out again are annals of the time, and will no doubt find their way into the naval history of Great Britain. In all the pride and majesty of a royal cruiser, with the Admiral's pennant flying in the breeze, she u entered the treacherous har bour. Her exit became her not so well. Thero was a good lot of trouble about it, and it is no doubc as difficult even tor a flagship to look dignified while stuok on a sandbank as it is for a Cabinet Minister who has been suddenly moved to sib down hastily in the middle of the floor of a skating rink. First in the order of untoward mishaps that have befallen the Nelson was the adventure in the Alfred Dock at Williamstown. Tho big ship got in ; but getting out again was a different matter. There was not sufficient water to float her over the dock sill, and the greatironcladwasignominiouslyimprisoned; and, if her fighting services had been needed aboub as much use for the time as a "pa^ntpd ship upon a painted ocean." When the wind changed ancl bhe tide served, after several days' waiting, the 'vessel escaped from, whpft ty> her officers and grew must indeed have seemed durance vile. But the Nelson had other experiences. On leaving Hobson's Bay the, ship took the ground off §fe. Hilda. By the aid of a consort, fortunately near at hand, sho got off after more than an hour's

detention. If the Calliope head not been near to render assistance it is not improbable that the southern metropolis would have acquired a permanent and vested interest in the present flagship of the Australian squadron. In view of the chances afforded of acquiring valuable property in that way, our Melbourne friends are to be congratulated upon the possession of such a bay, having such mysteriously situated sandbanks* and strategic dry docks. Altogether it would appear ,that Victoria possesses a beautiful harbour — to stay out of '—"Sydney News."