VISITING MAN-OF-WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2398, 13 January 1909, Page 4

VISITING MAN-OF-WAR.

H.M.S. CHALLENGER, H.M.S. Challenger, from Auckland, arrived in the bay yesterday afternoon about 4 o’clock. She is on one of her periodical coastal trips, and will visit Aapier and Wellington. The vessel left Auckland oil Tuesday, and indulged in some gunnery practice on tier way down the coast, which rather delayed her arrival at this port. On her putting in an appearance in the bay. His Worship tne Mayor . } (Mr. W. D. Lysnar) and Mr. John Townley, Chairman of the Harbor Board, went out- to her in the Harbor Board launch to pay an informal visit,, They were received on board by captain of the vessel, Captain H. C. C. DaCosta, and shown round her. While the party was on board softie , torpedo practice was indulged in at a moving target towed by one of the ' vessel’s pinaces. Some excellent results were obtained from the practice, but a couple of men in an open boat, who inadvertently got in the line of fire, had a rather narrow escape., as a torpedo passed close astern Of the craft, just missing her by a few feet. In the evening some fifty or sixty of the bluejackets came ashore, and remained in town all night. To-day a large proportion of the men will be on shore leave, and. as many of the officers as are available will come ashore about 2 p.m., and arrangements have been made to take them for a motor drive in the country. They will also be entertained at afternoon tea by the Mayoress. Another pleasing feature of the visit will be found in the fact that the hand of _ . the warship will .be brought ashore about 3 p.m., and will give a programme of music from the Trafalgar Rotunda. The band has a very high reputation, and their performance will doubtless be much enjoyed. Grs. Mann and Sheridan have been appointed to arrange for the entertainment of the band after the performance on the rotunda.

The Challenger is a second-class protected cruiser, of oSOO tons, and: carries II guns. She is capable of steaming 21 knots per hour, her horse-power being 12,500. She carries a crew of between 600 and 700, two-thirds of whom are colonials, including sixty or seventy New Zealanders. The Challenger is fitted with the latest wireless telegraphy apparatus, and it is stated that she lias received, messages from a distance of 1200 miles. This is not the first occasion on which the Challenger has been in Gisborne as she was in the bay at the time of the unveiling of the Cook Memorial.

The vessel continues her voyage to / Napier and Wellington this evening.