This photo was titled "Anti-Torpedo Drill". The main defence against the new Torpedo Boats were the Nordenfelt guns.
Nordenfelt
4 barrel "machine guns" (left),
Manual Fine Weather Wheel
,
Binnacle
,
Nordenfelt QF 6 Pounder Gun 
Steam Steering Wheel 
Telegraph 
and bugler. 
photo from The Australasian, 28 May 1898
sponsored by Robert Lawson.