The following notes are from the Hongkong Daily Press of the 28th and 29th ult., and Ist inst., respectively An order has been issued for the British fleet at present in the harbour, with the exception of the Edgar, to prepare to leave for the North on Wednesday next. The order has naturally given rise to considerable speculation and all sorts of rumours have been afloat in the colony but no one knows the real motive which has induced Admiral Seymour to give what appear to be alarming instructions. Th cerned are now busily engaged in taking in large supplies of stores and ammunition. Not only have the men-of-war received the instructions, but the four torpedo boat destroyers are also being rapidly prepared for sea. The Fame went into dock on Saturday and she will come out to-day to make room for the Whiting. The Naval Yard was open all yesterday and the greatest activity prevails.
Yesterday orders were issued for the Rainbow and the torpedo-boat destroyer Fame to leave at ten o'clock this morning. The Edgar, with the Whiting, will follow noon. Their destination is believed to be Chefoo. The Centurion will leave on Thursday. For the present the Immortalité remains here.
Yesterday morning H.BLS. Centurion, with Admiral Sir E. Seymour on board, the Archer, and the torpedo-boat destroyers, Whiting and Fame, left the harbour for the North. The Immortalité is likely to follow in a few day?
Shortly after eleven o'clock H.M.S. Victorious arrived from Singapore and the usual salutes were fired. The Victorious is a magnificent vessel and the finest in Far. Eastern waters. She was built at Chatham. Her length is 390 feet and her breadth 75 feet, her displacement is 14,900, indicated horse power 12,000, and she draws 27 feet 6 in. of water. Her armour-plating is of Harveyised steel, 9 inches thick, extending slong 216 feet of the middle of her length, and from 5 in. to6 in. below the normal water-line to 9 feet 6 inches above it. The armament of the Victorious consists of four breech-loading 12-in. wire guns, twelve 6-in. qui firing guns, sixteen 12-pounder quick-tiring guns. The four fighting tops of the ship are each armed with three 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns, the shelter deck forward with two 12-pounder boat and field guns, and the boat deck and bridge with eight -45 Maxim guns. The ship is also fitted with four submerged tubes for 18-in. tor-pedees, and one stern-tube above water. "The engines are each of 6,000 indicated horse power, which will drive the ship at 174 knots. She carries 790 tons of coal.
On her arrival in the harbour divers made an inspection of the ship's bottom and on receiving their report the Naval authorities decided that there was no necessity for the vessel to dock. She will Toad with coal to-day and leave either to-morrow or Monday.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.