ARRIVAL OF H.M.C.S. NELSON IN HOBSON'S BAY.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 185, 4 March 1868, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF H.M.C.S. NELSON IN HOBSON'S BAY.

Nelson, II M.S.C., line-of-bafctle ship. 2,730 tons, 500 horse-power, from Portsmouth, October 20, via Cape of Good Hope December 22, Commander—Chas. 13. Payne. The first instalment of our Victorian floating defences, steamed into Hobson's Pay Tuesday, the 4th ult., preceded by the Victoria. The Nelson was first spoken by the schooner Proseipine, hence to Belfast, on Sunday forenoon, and on the arrival of Captain Brown, at Belfast, on Monday, he immediately telegraphed the intelligence. On Monday," at three p.m., the the Nelson was sighted oli" Capo Otway, and at ten minutes past five on Tuesday morning, she entered Port Philip Heals. The Victoria, in command of Captain Norman, dropped down the bay on the previous evening, and convoyed her up to the anchorage. Captain Payne, who superintended the fitting up of the Nelson at home, and who has brought her out here, was warmly welcomed and congratulated by a number of friends on his arrival once more in these wa'ers. The Nelson left Portsmouth on ( c übcr 20, ond at the very outset of her voyage her sea-going capabilities were well tested in consequence of her having to beat down Channel under steam and trysails in veryhe ivy weather. The island of Medeira, bearing S.S.E., was sighted on November 3, and the equator was crossed on November 21, in long. 27deg. 28min. W. Very light winds prevailed from the channel to the line. Favorable S.E. trades wire fallen in with after leaving the tropics ; and after crossing the meridian of Greenwich, in lat. 38deg. 50min. S., the Nelson put into the Cape of Goo:! Hope on December 10, after experiencing some stormy weather outside. Captain Payne would have c une straight r'.ght on, without calling at the Cape, but, having a due regard to (he health of all on board, he considered it a more advisable course to secure a supply of fresh provisions. After coaling at Table Bay, the Nelson left for Melbourne on December 22, and was beating about for several days against easterly winds. Better weather, however, was afterwards met with, and with favouring westerly and south-westerly breezes, the Nelson went along at a clipping pace, doing her eleven knots with ease. The westerly winds continued until about the 2Gth ult., and since the passage has been retarded by variable SE. winds. When the ship was in lat. 42.43deg. S., and long. 63.23deg. E., a portion of wreck, apparently the lower mast of a large vessel, was observed floating by. The Nelson, although under jury rig, has made a very excellent passage. The voyage has not been entirely without incident. An occurrence of a domestic and pleasing nature took place on Chistmas-day, Mrs Pound, wife of the gunner, having given birth to a baby. On the same day one of the boys on duty aloft, fell and factored his skull. Previous to putting into the Cape, too, the armourer met with an accident, a complicated comminuted fracture of the knee-joint, and had to be left behind there. Amongst the officers on board the Nelson there are only five who have come out with the intention of remaining in he", namely—Captain Payne, Lieutenant W. B. Pantcr; Mr Robert J. Wemyss, chief engineer; Mr James V. Pound, gunner ; and Mr Joseph Frogley, boatswain. The others are supernumeraries for different ships of the squadron on the Australian station. Her armament consists of six 12-pounder howitzers for boat and field practice, and two GS-pounders, eonverted by the Palliser process to rifled 150pounders. Those are on her upper deck, and two heavy guns being fixed on pivot slides on the forecastle. On the main deck are twenty 32-pounders of the 42-cwt. pattern, intended for hoys' practice, and on her lower deck are her most, dangerous weapons, viz., twenty converted 64-pounders i.e. the old cast-iron smooth-bore sixty-fours rebored and fitted with double tubing of wrought iron, and rilled, all according to Major Palliscr's invention. She has also brought out two 300pounders.