AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 475, 28 May 1890, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

I (Per 11.M.5. Alameda.) DEPARTURE OF H.M.S. OPAL. Aete'r a stay of some six years on the Australian station, H.M.s. Opal has sailed from Sydney for England. The men had been granted leave the previous day to wish their friends good-bye, and before the ship started on Saturday Captain Bosanquet landed and took farewell of His Excellency tiie Governor and Lady Carrington. It was announced that the ship would sail ab 11 o’clock in the forenoon, and punctually at that hour she slipped from her moorings. Almost simultaneously her mastheads, yards and rigging were manned and farewell signals were run up each mast, the ship presenting a most animated appearance. A few minutes sufficed to slow the vessel, and as she started ahead the homeward-bound people were heartily cheered by the crews of the ships in port. The Opal’s men responded in a like manner. The Opal passed close under the stern of the flagship Orlando, the crew of which mounted the rigging and gave her a hearty “send off,” the band on the quarter-deck at the same time playing “Auld Lang Syne,” “ Home, Sweet Home,” etc. The Opal is expected to reach home some time in July. Tho ship has done some excellent service during the present commission, and both officers and men carry away with them the best wishes of quite a host of people, not only here but in the neighbouring colonies. The seven prisoners concerned in tho so-called mutiny on board H.M.s. Egeria were taken away by the Opal. This course has been deemed advisable in view of public attitude in the matter. With reference to the probable court of inquiry to be Held on the actions of certain of the officers of H.M.s. Egeria, the decision arrived at will be sent to the Admiralty and will not be generally known here.