and Carolines to return kidnapped South Sea Islanders. After a stay of six months in Sydney, where a new cylinder was made, the ship returned to Fiji in July 1874, having called at Norfolk Island on her way. On 17 July news arrived of the wreck of the French warship L'Hermite at Wallace Island, and Dido at once went to her assistance. In September, Sir Hercules Robinson, the Governor of New South Wales, arrived in HMS Pearl to reopen negotiations for the cession of the islands. The ship took a prominent part in the ceremony which marked the final cession of Fiji to Great Britain on 10 October 1874, during which the ex-King presented the Fijian flag to Captain Chapman, when it was hauled down for the last time to make room for the Union Flag. Dido carried King Cakabau to Sydney to visit the Governor of New South Wales, and returned with him to Fiji a month later. Some sources ascribe to this visit the introduction of measles among the native population. Having no immunity to the disease, large loss of life resulted. On 7 February 1875 she again left Fiji and, calling at New Caledonia, she sailed for Auckland. After five months in and around New Zealand Dido returned to Sydney, where she learnt of the death of Commodore Goodenough from poisoned arrows in the Santa Cruz Islands. Captain Chapman received his appointment as Commodore by telegram from the Admiralty. During her last days on the Australian Station Dido visited Tasmania, leaving Sydney on 2 December for Melbourne, where Commodore Chapman relinquished command of the station to Captain Hoskins. HMS Sapphire arrived to relieve her, and she sailed for home. Out of commission (1876 - 1879) On 6 June 1876 Dido returned to Spithead after a five-year commission on the West Africa Station and Australian Station, during which she covered over in 616 days at sea. She recommissioned at Portsmouth on 27 May 1879, now as a 12-gun corvette, commanded by Captain Arthur Richard Wright. West Africa Station and the First Boer War (1879 - 1881) Dido served on the West Africa Station, where Captain Wright died in command on 19 August 1879. He was succeeded by Captain Compton Edward Domvile on 19 September 1879. In 1881 Dido contributed 50 men and two field guns to a Naval Brigade, which went to the front under Lieutenant Henry Ogle.