Gayundah Lieutenant. Lieutenant Preston having resigned his position as navigating lieutenant of the Gayundah, the Government have, it is understood, appointed Mr. Smith to the vacancy. This gentlemen is well known as an officer in the A.U.S.N. company’s service, and for some time was captain of the Eurimbla. He is a brother of the members of the well known firm of Smith Brothers. The Telegraph (Brisbane) 16 Oct 1889 Page 4 For more information on the Australasian United Steam Navigation company (AUSN) see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_United_Steam_Navigation_Company Visiting the Gayundah. The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 – 1947) Thu 12 Sep 1889 Page 4 THE GAYUNDAH FLOATED. Brisbane, Thursday. — The gunboat Gayundah, which yesterday grounded on a reef near Townsville, has been floated uninjured. The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 – 1930) Fri 14 Jun 1889 Page 5 London, Yesterday. At the banquet of the City Club, Earl Granville announced that the Imperial Government allowed the Queensland gunboat Gayundah, employed in the New Guinea station, to carry white ensigns. The principle will be sure to be extended to other vessels of colonial navies after each case has been separately enquired into. Tasmanian News (Hobart, Tas. : 1883 – 1911) Wed 28 Jul 1886 Page 3 Work for the Gayundah. The Premier has received from the Imperial Government the following reply to his offer of the warship Gayundah :- “Whereas by an Order in Council of this day’s date Her Majesty was pleased, by and with the consent of her Privy Council, to approve the provision, maintenance, and use by the colony of Queensland of certain armed vessels and the raising and maintaining the seamen and others entered thereon, for the purpose of defending the coasts of the colony of Queensland and of co-operating with the ships of the Royal Navy. “And whereas by an Act of the Imperial Legislature, entitled the Colonial Naval Defence Act. 1865, it was amongst other things enacted that it shall be lawful for Her Majesty in Council, from (time) to time as occasion requires, and on such conditions as seem fit, to authorise the Admiralty to accept any offer for the time being made by the Government of a colony to place at Her Majesty’s disposal any vessel of war provided by that Government, and the men and officers from time to time serving therein; and while any vessel accepted by the Admiralty under such authority is at the disposal of Her Majesty, such vessel shall be deemed to all intents a vessel of war of the Royal Navy, and the men and officers from time to time serving in such vessel shall be deemed to all intents men and officers of the Royal Navy, and shall accordingly be subject to all enactments and regulations for the time being in force for the discipline of the Royal Navy. “And whereas the Government of the colony of Queensland hath offered to place the armed vessel Gayundah and the men and officers serving therein at Her Majesty’s disposal. “Now, therefore, in pursuance of the last above recited Act, Her Majesty is pleased, by and with the consent of her Privy Council, to authorise the Admiralty to accept, for such time as the Admiralty may approve, the offer so made by the Government of the said colony of Queensland to place at Her Majesty’s disposal the abovenamed vessel the Gayundah and the men and officers serving therein. “And whereas by an Act of the Imperial Legislature intituled The Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865, it was, amongst other things enacted, in any colony it shall be lawful for the proper legislative authority with the approval of Her Majesty in Council from time to time to make provision for effecting, at the expense of the colony, amongst others, the purposes following, viz., for providing, maintaining, and using a vessel or vessels of war subject to such conditions and for such purposes, as Her Majesty in Council from time to time approves, and for raising and maintaining seamen and others entered on the terms of being bound to serve, as ordered in any such vessel. “And whereas by an Act of the Legislature of the Colony of Queensland, No. 27 of 1881 (or 1884?), to which said Act the Royal assent has been duly given, the Governor of the said colony of Queensland is empowered to raise and maintain such and so many officers and seamen as may from time to time be required to man any armed ships or vessels belong to Her Majesty’s Colonial Government and it is enacted by the said Act, that the officers of such ships shall be appointed during pleasure and the seamen shall be enlisted in the prescribed manner, and for the prescribed period of service, &c. “And whereas the Legislative authority of the said colony have made provision for effecting the aforesaid purposes, and the said colony have caused to be constructed certain armed vessels. “Now, therefore, in pursuance of the first above recited Act, Her Majesty is pleased by and with the consent of the Privy Council, to approve the provision, maintenance, and use of the said vessels and the raising and maintaining the seamen and others entered thereon, for the purpose of defending the coasts of the said colony, and co-operating with the ships of the Royal Navy. “C L PEEL. The Week (Brisbane, Qld. : 1876 – 1934) Sat 12 Sep 1885 Page 8 So I suppose that is a “yes, when we need it we’ll take it” answer. This afternoon the Hon. S. W. Griffith will make an official inspection of the Queensland Government gunboat, the Gayundah. The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 – 1947) Mon 30 Mar 1885 Page 4 At the time Samuel Griffith was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, he later became Qld’s 9th Premier in 1890.THE GAYUNDAH DIFFICULTY
BRISBANE, Thursday. – The Government have abandoned their intention of placing the gunboat Gayundah in reserve, and the officers and men have been ordered to resume duty. It is believed that the Government have found they are bound to retain the men for a term of three years.
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 – 1930) Fri 9 Oct 1891 Page 5
An informal inspection of the Queensland gunboat Gayundah and the naval stores was made yesterday, by a number of members of Parliament. The party was courteously received on board by Captain Taylor, senior naval officer, and shown all over the ship, and the men were put through several movements, executing their work in a first-class manner. Among the officers of the ship present were Staff-paymaster Pollock, Staff-engineer Bennett, Torpedo- engineer Russell, and Navigating-lieutenant Preston. These officers explained at length the use of various things on board under their immediate supervision. A visit was then made to the naval stores at Kangaroo Point, and were here shown a number of articles of warfare, and Torpedo-instructor Mills explained the construction of the torpedo, and showed various ways in which a mine could be discharged. The party were very much impressed with what they saw and also received a good deal of instruction. Captain Taylor pointed out several things to the members of which they had hitherto been in complete ignorance, and the visit ought to prove of considerable advantage to the marine defenders of the colony. Previous to returning to town the party were rowed down to the Merrie England and the members went on board to bid good-bye to Sir William Macgregor.
“June 24, 1885”
Government & Administration2
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