On Thursday afternoon, a few hours after H.M.S. Meander had anchored in Farm Cove, a fire, which at one time was of a very alarming nature broke out on board. The smell of fire, accompanied by smoke, attracted attention to the bread-room, which in a vessel of this class, is in the aftermost part of the hold. The fire bell was rung, and the ship's company were immediately at their stations in case of fire. The after magazine being close to the seat of the was immediately drowned by the usual means, and the deck in the after gun room was scuttled, to allow the fire engine to play on it. The boats were placed in readiness to give assistance, by taking on board the powder, &c., as might have been required, in which case they were assisted by those of H.M.S. Rattlesnake. One of the boats of the latter, with her fire engine on board, rendered very effective service, by taking up her station under the Meander's stern, which enabled the hose to be led through the after gun-room ports, and the water was directed immediately upon the burning mass. A large quantity of bread was lost, but no other damage of importance was ultimately sustained, in consequence of the prompt measures taken to subdue the fire. The cause of the conflagration has not been known, but it is supposed that the bread was in a damp state when shipped at Singapore, which caused ignition. Luckily, this did not occur at sea, as they would then have had to trust only to their own resources. There were two tons of gunpowder in the after magazine.

The Meander is a frigate of 44 guns. She left Singapore on the 24th September for Batavia, touching at Anger, and arrived at the former place October 6th; from this she proceeded to Port Essington, passing to the eastward of Java, and through the Straits of Timor, having variable winds, but she reached her destination on the 13th November, and then embarked the detachment of marines and other persons who comprised the settlement, leaving behind merely a few inferior houses, and a small quantity of live stock ; whilst there, her surgeon, Dr. Clarke, died after a few days' illness. From this she sailed on the 1st December for Banda Islands, where she arrived on the 8th, and were very hospitably received by the Dutch authorities. Having watered, she steered for Pitt's Passage, and going to the northward of New Guinea, touched at Port Hunter, and afterwards at Carteret's Harbour, in New Ireland, from which she took her departure on the 12th January. After undergoing the requisite repairs, it is expected she will proceed to Auckland, and from thence to Valparaiso. The military station at Port Essington is now entirely abandoned.

Both articles: SG & SGTL Vol 7, p 41

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