A SEA PAGEANT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2379, 8 October 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A SEA PAGEANT.

A Splendid Spectacle at Splthead.

Tin: Queen reviewed the h«mi-' section of the English navy at. Spithea-d on July between the I-le of Wight and the Hampshire coast. One hundred and thirtyfour pennants were flown in the fl-ot of the vessels reviewed. There were twentysix armoured ships nine unarm aired ships, three torpedo on* torpedo gunboat, one gun b»rj» do v.--.s thbtyeight lirst-cln» (urpodo h«i;i?s, tiiirtvoight irun-hoats, twelve troopships, one pa idle iiigate, and six tnining brigs. There were 20,000 oliicer.s and men in the crews of the vessels on exhibition. There were also a number *d speesal vessels for the accommodation of ollicials and invited guests.

The vessels to be reviewed were placed ‘ in line early in the morning. One of them lay along tiic Isle of Wight, while the others were iu a parallel line just off Hampshire. The vessels reviewed were about a quarter *.f a mile apart. The day was absolutely perfect. Although it was warm, there was a fresh : breeze blowing all day. There was- every form nf modern naval architecture, placed in contrast with hulks and ancient vessels o' the past which were moored in Forts- ! month harbour. Two vessels, which attracted more attention, perhaps, than all of the new vessels, were the gigantic four-deckers, Duke of Wellington and the Victory, the latter being the remaining ship nf Xtds-m's old fleet. The Victory, which was his flagship, is still in good condition. It was thought best at one time to have these historical vessels in the parade. There was a marked contrast between these two high-storied wooden vessels ami the low-built iron .monsters of torpedo boats which iia-di--d about the harbour, reining at the sp-cd of eighteen and twenty miles an hour. These boats ran aboat :m harbour looking for all tee w.e: i like amphibious creatures, so low d 1 they lie in the water. Anynfth-s- vicious, swift-nm-niug crufts, small ns they are, would be snliieient to ib stray in a few moments any vessel of the character of the Vicvessels reviewed were covered with Hags from stern In stern. Hack of them, along the Isle of Wight, were innumerable pleasure crafts. Along the Hampshire coast were excursion steamers ami the . great vessels of the IViiiiisnlar and Orii-n tal line, which brought the people, down from London for the .sum of tl7, and gave ’ them a dinner and a night's lodging, remaining for the illuminations. Tiie Queen did not leave the Isle of Wight until about three o'clock. There were three royal yachts. There wasa little pilot vessel leading the way. Then came the Queen's yacht, that nf the Frince of Wales, and then the yacht assigned to the Herman Crown Friuee. The royal yachts had two smoke-stacks, painted yellow, and three masts, all wh it". Each were side-wheel steamers. The Queen sat aft under a white awning, with only two or three ladies near her. She was in black, with a black bonnet trimmed with white lace. She wore black gloves, and held in her hand a green sun umbrella. The Friuee I of Wales ou his yacht wore for the first ; time the uniform of his new office of Admiral. ] Die royal vachts were followed by file i Enph ratf-s carrying numh-rs of the j House of Lords mid their families, .ami : tiic Crocodile, carrying members i of the House of Commons. At ! her heels came two others cany- j ing the Indian Fiances and the High Admiralty officers. The yards of all of : the fleet iu review were manned with ; sailors half an hour before the royal ; yachts were storied. These men stood m i still that at the immense height at which - they were perched they looked like toy : sailors. It, was a splendid spectacle when Hie yachts turned and passed down the line of 1 these magnificent warships. All of tin- ; ports of the war ve-.-cls were open, and j stccl-moutha! cannon showed from every j opening. The Hying flairs and the c-d- , ours of the graceful -hips made a naval i picture to gladden the heart of a sailor. t but of tlie long line reviewed only onehalf are now up to modern reipiin-rn-nts Change ;s the order of the day. The great Agineonrt, with her displacement of 10,000 tons, costing over f 100. 090. is now considered second-class in rank. Interest upon the art of naval men is now concentrated on the torpedo boats ami swift steel cm if crs. At the close of the review tiie Queen received on her yacht all of the commanders of the vessel of the licet. In the evening Portsmouth was ablaze with illuminations, and gloaming electric lights illuminated every stick and spar of llufleet. The day and evening has made the brightest and most interesting picture of the Jubilee ceremonies.