The gunboat Gayundah has returned to Brisbane after its long cruise around the Western Australian coast. She entered the river at 9.30 am yesterday and was moored to the Naval Stores wharf about two hours later. Commander G.A.H. Curtis and Lieutenant P.W. Stevens were the officers on board. Interviewed on his return Commander Curtis said the cruise had lasted four months and was the longest she had ever made, with the exception of her trip from England. During this four months the Gayundah covered 7820 miles, between Brisbane and Broome, on the Western Australian coast, travelling in and out the coast line, mostly in unsurveyed waters. The Gayundah was on coastguard duty, and sailed with sealed orders. It will be remembered that a practical outcome of the trip was the capture off Broome of two Dutch fishing boats, which were fishing territorial waters without having registered at an Australian port. The masters were eventually fined. Though after the seizure the gunboat handed over the captures to the Customs authorities, who proceeded with the case, the affair kept the Gayundah at Broome a month before the civil court had finished with the officers. Commander Curtis spoke of the cruise having been of special benefit to the crew, among whom were four or five militiamen, who have had an experience which falls to the lot of few of their class. The Gayundah is badly in need of overhaul and a coat of paint after her long spell at sea.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933) Sat 26 Aug 1911 Page 4