H.M.S. MEDEA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 330, 2 January 1889, Page 5

H.M.S. MEDEA.

A trial speed of this* ironclad \\ as cabled on Ihursday last as having taken place at home, -with a result ot a maximum speed of 18 knots having been obtained on a 12 hours' run. The Medea is the type of fehip selected for the five protected cruisers now being built for the Australian squadron, in substitution of the Archer type at first decided on. She was launched afc Chatham Dockyard on 9th June. The Medea was designed by Mr White, director of naval architecture, and is described as a twin-screw vessel, unarinouied, Currying 6in. breeeb-loading guns placed in sponsons built out in the sides ot the hull, one on each side at each end, and one on each side amidships. The protection is 3in deck plating of the usual arched .typo ; and the engines, developing 9,000 indicated horsepower, were to have given the vessel a speed of twenty knots an hour. Besides the above armouroient, she will carry ten quick-firing guns protected by shields. The conning-tower is the only armoured portion. In length the Medea is 265 ft. between the perpendiculars. 40ft. extreme breadth, and 16it. sin. in depth of the hull. Her displacement is 2,800 tons. Her draught will be 15ft. 3in. forward, and 17ft. 9in. aft. Her coal capacity is 400 tons, equal to steaming 8,000 knots. She was commenced on sth April la*fe year, having thus occupied only 14 months in construction. The Magicienne, the Medusa, the Melpomene, and the Marathon, four other vessels of the same class, are in course of construction or fitting for the Imperial Navy. The trial result of 18 knots will be seen by the above has not come up to the speed which the specifications at first published required, namely, a 20-knot speed.

The Russians are buying extensive lands i-n Palestine, with the object, it is believed, of mci easing their ecclesiastical establishments there, and of giving those which exist large endowments. In fact, Russia seems to be in a fair way of supplanting French influence in the Holy Land ; and the curious part of the situation is that France, which waa once so jealous of that influence, and joined Britain in the Crimea^ .war to assist in repressing it, seems now willing <to (five Ruesitt a free •hand.

The Reminiscences of Mr Toole Mr Toole's reminiscences have been published in two haudsOme volumes, oxoellontiy illustrated by Mr Alfred Bryan and Mr Margeb&on. They will be found to contain some very lively and amusing reading, and those who care for theatrical ana will certainly find that Mr Toole has provided a really good entertainment.

Mr Toolo Meets Mr Gladstone and Lord Tennyson. Mr Toolo, as we learn in the reminiscences, has never induced Lord Tennyson to write him a play yot, but who knows what may happen. He has met the Laureate al one of Mr Gladstone's, breakfatt parfcic?. Among his thousand and ono accomplishments, Mr Gladstone has a knowledge oftho stage. 'In regard to the influence of audiences upon actors he related to rao a. a story of Young- in Edinburgh. Young ' was playing lago, In die hr.-c ace ho was not at all up to the mark. At the end of the second an intimate friend went round and said, 'Why. Young, you played this act far better than the first— a different , thing altogether V • Yes,' Young replied, ' Scott came into a box at the beginning of v the second act.' On another occasion Mr Toole remains that the conversation rose to such a high and elevated plattorm that, when he left and found himself in the street ' I talked to a policeman to try and bring myself down to the level of oidinar\ life "

Mr Toole's Portrait. ' 'One day Mr Toole went to giuo in shy silence on his portrait, which was hanging in the <.iros\enor Gallery. Two old ladies i were also looking 1 at tiie mastei piece. ' Who 'is that ?' said one. 4 .\h dear, J do not know,' said the othei : ' it is the poi trait of o gentleman.' This was complimentary to Mi* Toole, ab any rate. 'Ho looks \ery j-erious," -<nic] one of the old ladies again. ' I think he is a clergyman.' 'Or a scientific lecturer,' feaid the other, and then, looking at the catalogue, 'Jt is the portrait ot a Mr Toole.' The other said, ' T don't know him, but I fancy he is an actor.' 'Poor fellow.' said the other, ' he ife a tragedian, he looks so sad.' '

Mr Sotfcern and the Ironmonger's Assistant. This is a story of Sothern which was told to Mr Toolo by Mrs John Wood. One day the famous practical joker went with Mis Wood into an ironmonger's shop, and a^ked for a copy of !Macaulay's ' History oi England,' 'We cto not sell books, sir,' said the assistant. 'This is an ironmonger's shop.' * Well, I'm not particular,' said Sothern, pretending to be deaf ; * I don't cai'e whether it is bound in calf or Russia.' 'But this is not a bookseller's,' shouted the assistant. < All right,' said Sothern ; ' wrap it up neatly. I want to ha^e it sent down to the hotel. It's for n> present I wish to make to a relative.' j ' We don't keep it," shouted the assistant, getting- red in the face. 'Do it uj> as if it i were for your own mother. 1 don't want anythiner better than that,' said Sothern. 'I* would like to write my name on the fly-leaf.' "Sir,' bawled the assistant at the top of his voice, ' Can't you see we do not keep books V 'Very well, said Sothern, quite undisturbed, * I will wait for it.' The clerk appealed to his master, and said he thought the customer must be oif his head. ' What is it, sir ? What do you desire?' he said to Sothern 1 1 want to buy a file," roplied the actor ;' a plain file, four or five inches long. ' 'Certainly, said the master, casting a withering glance at his assistant.

Mr Toole on * Orders.' 4 1 received curious letters for orders,' says Mr Toole, 'with curious reasons why I should send them. A chemist's assistant wiote for an order, las claim being that he had once prepaied u prescription for me, and had made uu the wrong medicine, foitunately without injury; and this had always made him follow up my caieer with the greatest interest. Another Applicant tor dress circles' said he was emboldened to ask the fa\ our becau&e he had met my uncle on board a steamer. Buckstone said when be became a manager he had to give up writing pieces, his time was so occupied in writing- orders. And yet Charles Mathews once told me of the 'boots' at a countiy hotel where he was staying asking; to be paid for going to the fcheatie. Mathews, struck with the fellow's chility gave him an order for the play. ' Come and bee the piece, Tom,' said Mathews. 'At the theatre: 'Yes,' said Mathews : 'heie is an order for you.' The next day Mathews said, ' Well, Tom, did you like the piay ?' 'Oh! yes,' .said the boots, in a dubious kind of way : ' but who's to pay mo for my time ''.' '

A Curious Convci'satlon. Mr Toole tells an amusing story, which was greatly appreciated by Dickons, of two boys who weie discussing ' The Lady of Lyons ' and ' The Bleeding- Xun,' which were being played in Sheffield :—: — First boy : • Hast been to play V Second boy: 'Aye." First boy: ' Wot were't . playV Second boy: 'T' Lady a Lyons.' First boy : ' Wot were'fc Lady Lyons up to V .Second boy : 'Up to nowt ; ah cum oofc tend a t'acfc, couldn't mek oot wot t'were aboot moren t'man in t'moon.' First boy: 'Wot weie t'other play?' Second boy: 'T Bleeding Nnn.' First boy: 'Wot were't Bleedin' Nun up to V Second boy : ' T' Bleedin J Nun were up to nowt, ah cum oot 'fore it was over ; coulcl't mek oot wo t'were aboot moren t'man in t'moon ' ' They must have had a pleasant evening,' Dickens remarked.

Phelps and Macready—' Brute ' and •Beast.' ' When Phelps came to LDury ane with Macready, he alternated the parts of Macbeth and Macduff. He made a great hit in Macdufl 1 . It was one of his best performances. The fight was terrific. When Macready was fighting he always under his breath used to bully Macduff, calling him ' Beast !' * Wretch !' ' Scoundrel ! etc. It was suggested to Phelps that he should do the same. 80 when Macready called him beast, Phelps l-efcorted, ' Brute ! Demon ! Fiend ! Ruffian !' etc. The play over, Phelps expected to be rebuked, and, as he anticipated, was promptly sent for to Mr Macready's room. But it was to be praised. ' Thank you veiy much. Mr Phelps, more particularly in the fight. I have never found anybody before to work with me so pleasantly.' J asked Phelps if this scory was true, and he said, s Yes, it is ; quite true. ' '

' ' Hinemoa " is said to be the title of Sir Julius Vogel's new novel, and ib is stated that he is bringing ifc out in partnership with a Christchurch lady. According to a correspondent of a Southern paper, the scenes are principally laid in Maoriland, and include incidents of the war, Sir George Grey and Te Kooti playing very conspicuous parts. While the assassin of Poverty Bay appears in propria persona, Sir George C4rey is easily recognisable in the weakminded old statesman, "Sir Thomas Bland." Paul Foucher, a nephew of Vicitor Hugo and a journalist, lias offered 'himself to M, Pasteur as a subject for a decisive experiment on vaccination against Asiatic cholera. While the receipts of the Dunedin Corporation have decreased 5i percent., tho expenditure has decreased Bh per cent.