224
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Wivenhoe, at noon. They came from all parts of Essex, and from London,
and included the President (Mr. Howard), the Mayor of Chelmsford (Mr.
Chancellor), and Sir John Hall (ex-Premier of New Zealand). Dr. Sorby had
sailed into the estuary in his yacht "Glimpse," and the Hon. Secretaries,
with Mr. G. E. Vaughan, came over from Mersea. Great regret was
expressed at the absence of Dr. Laver through indisposition, and of the
Mayor of Colchester, who was prevented from being present, as was also
another of our "conductors," Mr. W. Crouch. It is impossible to give a full
list of those who took part in the meeting, but it filled two pages of the
signature book, and included many of our best-known and most active
members.
The weather quickly grew kind and favouring. The rain which fell
during Wednesday night and Thursday ceased before the time of the
excursion and ere the water-trip began even the clouds began to pack away,
allowing the sun to shine through, and for the greater part of the afternoon
there was sunshine, warmth, and of course, happiness—as the Essex Times put
it, "when was an Essex Field Club meeting anything but happy ? "
The Mouth of the Colne. Evening.
(Drawn by H. A. Cole.)
At Messrs. Forrestt's the work in the yard happened to include many
shipping operations of considerable interest, which were explained by the
Managing Director and by Mr. C. E. Benham. About 30 man-of-war's boats
of all types were in course of construction for the Chilian Government, a very
elaborate class of boat, and in some respects more so than those built for the
Admiralty. There were also to be seen four torpedo launches for the
Admiralty. Though only 56 feet long by nine feet beam their machinery,
supplied by Mr. A. G. Mumford, of Colchester, indicates over 200 horse power.
They have a speed of 14 knots and carry two torpedoes and two quick-firing
guns. The "Ginesta" was in the yard—the cutter which sailed for the
America Cup in 1885. She has been re-caulked and coppered, and is ready
to launch again after a complete overhaul. Messrs. Forrestt and Son are
also building a small steel Government steamer for Port Elizabeth, in South
Africa. She is ready to launch for the purpose of lifting in her machinery.
Perhaps the most interesting feature was the work for the Congo Free State.