The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1906. THE NAVY AND THE EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 36, 10 February 1906, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1906. THE NAVY AND THE EMPIRE.

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Whatever differences of opinion there may be about Mr Seddon's Liberalism and the means he employs to illustrate it, we bel'°ve that on most questions affecting our relations with the rest of the Empire he has the practically unanimous sympathy and support of the colony behind him. Indeed, one of the Premier's strongest claims to the possession of genuine statesmanship is the fact that in dealing with Imperial questions he has so frequently shown himself able to interpret and to represent the feelings of the great majority of the people of this country quite, irrespective of the political party to which they belong. And we believe that the rem rks which Mr Seddon made at Sir Joseph Ward's banquet last night in this respect form no exception to bis other public utterances on Imperial subjects. Referring to the rumour that the new Government at Home proposes to reduce the Naval Estimates, the Premier took occasion to express his anxiety as to this change of national policy. Unfortunately, the projected Colonial Conference is not to be held this year; but we believe that if it were convened the representatives of tbe self-governing colonies would all in different ways voice the same sentiment as Mr Seddon. We believe, that the safety of the Empire depends upon the strength and efficiency of the British Navy. We would view its diminution or any cessation in our naval preparations with the gravest anxiety. And we believe that Mr Seddon expressed the sincere convictions of the vast majority of the men and women of New Zealand when he declared that rather than see Britain's naval supremacy in any way compromised we would willingly increase the contribution we now pay toward the support of the navy and the defence of the Empire. Tbe position of the colonies with respect to naval contributions is seldom stated fairly in the controversies that constantly rage round this question. The average colonial is too apt to forget the indirect benefits that he enjoys as a result of England's naval predominance. The average. Englishman is too ready to assume that the colonies are selfish or unpatriotic because they pay far less than the United Kingdom per head toward the support of the Navy. The population basis for such a contribution i 3, of course, altogether irrational and unsound. If England had not a single oversea colony the British Navy would still be needed by England and would probably require almost as heavy an annual expenditure as it demands to-day. But it is true that the colonies share with England the inestimable benefit of security which is assured to them solely by the strength of England's fleets; and for that reason it is our duty to give what help we can afford toward the maintenance of the Navy. The increase of our naval subsidy from £20,000 to £40,000 a year does not seem to have pressed heavily upon our resources; and it would certainly be possible for the Australian States to raise their modest subscription to the Imperial defence fund without serious injury to their finances. As the "Times" pointed out a year ago the interest of the colonies in the naval supremacy of England is not to be measured by the value of their ocean trade or the amount of their shipping tonnage. Their prosperity and security are absolutely bound up in England's retention of her naval superiority. Yet while the Empire's naval expenditure for 1904 was over £36,000,000, over £35,500,000 of this huge sum was contributed by the United Kingdom, and less than £400,000 by the colonies, who together subscribed less than India alone. Under these, circumstances we believe that the colonies should be prepared to endorse Mr Seddon's statement that rather than see England's naval power decline we would willingly contribute more liberally to the great cause of Imperial defence. The mail steamer Ventura arrived from Sydney at half-past live last evening, having been delayed on the passage down the New Zealand coast by an easterly gale and beavy fogs, which necessitated the vessel being hove-to for five or six hours. Exceptionally fine weather was met with in the Tasman Sea, and but for the heavy weather encountered at the end of the voyage the Ventura would have reached Auckland early yesterday morning. The gale was encountered on Thursday afternoon and moderated yesterday morning, during that time the commander and all his officers were on duty. The weather continued heavy until the vessel entered the gulf last evening. The Ventura continued her voyage for Pago Pago, Honolulu and San" Francisco at 0.30 a.m. to-day. She is due at the Californian port on the 26th inst., and her mails should reach London on March 10. The R.M.s. Sierra is expected to arrive from 'Frisco and the Islands next Monday,. A collision occurred on the Mt. Roskili bridge yesterday afternoon between a horse and trap owned by R. Salmon, Ltd., and a baker's cart. The horse attached to Salmon's cart had one of its forelegs broken between the spokes of the wheel of the other cart, and it had to be destroyo'l.

The following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"Strong winds to gale from between south-east and south and south-west; glass rise; rain probable." The week's camp of the 2so. 1 Battalion Infantry was concluded this morning, and the men were dismissed except for a fatigue party that has to strike the tents this afternoon. Last night Col. Davies. C.8.. inspected the Battalion and briefly reviewed the work done at the. recent sham-fight. After the parade the officers mess held a dinner, and the rank and file entertained themselves variously. The camp has been one of the best and most instructive ever held by the Battalion. The Engineers, who have been, in camp at Takapuna for sixteen days past, concluded their camp this morning also. It was highly successful, and the company should secure a good position in the grading of the Engineer companies of the colony. The work practised included field engineering, signalling, electrical workings, entrenchments, field telegraphs, barbed wire entanglements, and the whole gamut of the interesting things this most useful branch of the Army does. The camp was under the instruction of Staff Sergeant-Major Russell, R.E., who devoted a lot of time and patient endeavour to teaching the men. Captain Robinson, R.E., Engineer Staff-Officer for the colony, held an examination of the corps last week for the. award of the efficiency badges and the personal payments of £1. Captain Tapper and Lieuts. Hewson and Robinson were in camp for the fortnight, and there was an average attendance of between 50 and 00 men during the Fort camp. The Submarine Miners are also in camp at Fort Cautley. The District Coroner rMr T. Gresham) held an inquiry yesterday concerning the. death of an eight-weeks' old infant at the licensed home of Mrs Jane Pearce, Parnell. Dr. Marsack, who attended the child, said that heart failure had been the cause of death. Mrs Pearce said that up to the time of admission to the home, the child had been breast fed, but since then it had been fed on cow's milk and Mellin's food. Mrs McDonnell, police matron and inspector, considered it risky to place a child directly from the breast to the bottle. There was a new form, marked B, which was used to specify that the child had been properly weaned. If Dr. Darby had been supplied with one it would have shown that the weaning had been properly effected prior to the child being boarded out. A verdict was returned of death from natural causes. A rider was added that had form B been supplied to Dr. Darby the child's life might have been saved. The following are the handicaps for the 120 yds. Indies' bracelet to be run at the confectioners', biscuit, and fruit preservers' picnic: G. Rayncs, scratch; J. Green, lyd; A. Nixon, 3yds; G. Warner, 4vds; W. Stevenson, 6yds; W. Johnson, 7yds; J. Smithson, 7yds; W. Colvin, 10yds; F. Lester, 11yds; R. Stevenson, 11yds; J. S. Jones, 13yds. During the past twelve months Mr. Walter James, the Agent-General for West Australia, despatched 354 emigrants,, comprising 49 families, and 146 single adults, to West Australia. Those receiving assisted passages took a capital of f 10,215, an average of £200 per family. In addition to the above 178 nominated emigrants proceeded to West Australia. Bishop Lenihan held a confirraatioe service at Kaihu this morning, and returned to Dargaville. To-morrow he confirms 80 young people at Mangawhare and Kopuru. Replying to a deputation of Catholic laity the Bishop favoured the erection of a convent and school at Mangawhare this year. A well-attended and enthusiastic meeting of farmers from all parts of the district to consider the question of establishing saleyards in Coromandel was held last evening. Major Swindley (County Chairman) presided. Messrs Bodle, manager, of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. and the company's auctioneer, were present to hear the views of the settlers. After a deal of discussion the folowing committee was formed to carry out the project of establishing saleyards: — Messrs Lynch, Darling, Wight, James (Coromandel), Carey (Port Charles), Jackson (Cabbage Bay), McGregor (Mercury Bay), and Hovell (Kennedy Bay). Mr John Lynch offered a site free for five years, several farmers offered to donate material for the yards, and others offered cash to the amount of nearly £50. The Loan and Mercantile Co. agreed to contribute £20 and provide an expert to superintend the erection of the saleyards. The recent cablegram with regard to the find of Turners in London was a little ambiguous in its terms, and out of five versions published by leading New Zealand papers four differed in their interj pretation. Further inquiries finally establish the reading as follows: What in the art world is regarded as a sensational announcement is made public in to-day's newspapers. Twenty of Turner's masterpieces — so-called " unfinished " works in oil, valued at £250.000—which were concealed at the instance of the late John Ruskin, when the so-called '"finished" works were hung, will shortly be exhibited in the National Gallery. The "Daily Telegraph" describes the masterpieces as further vindicating Turner's last period. The Garrison Band will play the following programme in the Albert Park on Sunday, commencing at 2.30 p.m.: March, "Major and Minor" (Sousa); selection, "II Flauto Majico" (Mozart); valse, "The Wicket Gate"' (Wilford); gavotte, "True Love" (Dryland): selection, "Lucrezia Borgia" (Dennzettes); march, "Royal Review" (Round). A concert will be given in Ponsonby Hall next Thursday evening in J aid of the fund? of the West End Lawn Tennis Club. The club wishes to extend and improve its pavilion, and the general interest now taken in the game in this district should ensure a large audience. Madame Chambers.. Miss Aulsebrook, Dr. Keith, Mr W. Manning, Mr G. Warren and other well-known amateurs have offered thoir services, and the entertainment provided should therefore reach a high standard of excellence. The tfull programme will appear in our next Wednesday's issue. Mr. T. Harle Giles, principal of King ! Edward's College, day school for boys and girls. Lower Symonds-street, notifies the re-opening of the college. Civil Service and matriculation classe3 now forming; also commercial classes for the preparation of boys and girls for business pursuits. Evening classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Eleven passes in recent Civil Service and matriculation examinations. The St. Patrick's Day annual sports in connection with the Catholic Church at Hamilton will be held on Sydney Square, Hamilton, on March 17. There are 14 events on the programme, which also includes various amusing event 3 A social will be held in tie Town HaU in the evening.

The- largest sheep-owner of the whole colony is Mr T. S. Williams, of Tuparoa, the sheep on his two stations amounting to 90,000. On the stations owned by Messrs Williams on the coast there are 193,318 sheep depasturing. Others are R. Campbell and Sons, Waitaki and Wallace Counties, 86,960: Archdeacon Williams, Hawke's Bay, 79,772; Dalgety and Co., Wairoa, "Vincent, and Selwyu Counties, 74,210; New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Waimate, 62.953; G. P. Donnelly, Hawke's Bay, 60.010; R. D. D. McLean, Hawke's Bay, 56,000; G. and P. Hunter, Porongahau, 48.000; J. D. Ormond, Hawke's Bay, 52,199. The s.s. Kestral will run a moonlight excursion round the Harbour next Monday evening. The usual excursions wiil he. run to St. Heller's Bay and Rangitoto to-morrow. The handicappers for the sports at the butcher's annual picnic on March 14th will be Messrs. D. Stewart and H. Hood. Father Lynch, of the Redempt-orist Order, will begin a short mission on Tuesday in the Gladstone Hall, Northcote. "Ye Olde English Bazaar and Carnival will be continued all next week, owing: to the success that has been attended it so far. The moonlight excursion will take place on March 5. The ninth anniversary of the. Bayfield Methodist Sunday-school, Ponsonby, will be celebrated to-morrow. Speial sermons—morning by Rev. J. A. Luxford, afternoon Rev. C. H. Garland, evening Rev. W. Grigg. Special preparations have been made to make this anniversary a great success. The public meeting is held on Monday evening. A table full of blouse lengths, excellent bargains, 9d. 1/, 1/3, 1/6, up; lovely graduated silk spot embroidered dress lengths, in blue, grey, reseda, slightly soiled. 69/6. out they go, 19/11.—At the famous "clean sweep" sale.—McCullagh and Gower. —Ad. At our Summer Clearance Fair—Teneriffe work in runners, traycloths, etc., slightly soiled, very much reduced.— Smith and Caughey, Ltd. —(Ad.) There are several special bargain lines being offered for the next few days of our stocktaking sale. See windows. W. Gribble, Eden Terrace.—Ad. Remnants accumulating fast —all selling at half-price—carpets, linoleums and furnishing drapery. Tonson Garlick C'o.'b gigantic cash furniture sale.— Ad. Special! at our fair! 44in. silk voile, all summer shades to clear at 1/11 yard. —Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—Ad. Now is the time to repair. If you want working suits 21/, trousers 5/11, shirts, 2/6, try Geo. Fowlds.—Ad. At the fair! 36in. coloured costume crash, clearance price 5Jd yard.— Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—Ad. At our Clearance Fair—Made-up cushions reduced to 1/9, 1/11, etc Beaded wrist bags, reduced to clear, 1/11 each. —Smith & Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad.) Just opened: Long black suede gloves, long white and coloured fabric gloves, at clean sweep prices; 3-dome white kid gloves, 1/6; Dent's 3-dome French suede, clean sweep price, 2/6. —At McCullagh and Gower's sale. —Ad. Bedsteads: Special line in round end iron bedsteads now selling at 20/; exceptionally good value at Tonson Garlick Co.'s gigantic cash furniture sale.— Ad. Ladies' umbrellas, 1/11; ladies' R to W. hats, lid; door mats from 8d; toilet covers from 6d; sample line of men's white and coloured shirts, braces and collars, half-price. W. Gribble, Eden Terrace.—Ad. At the Fair—A limited quantity of best Axminster carpets, borders to match, clearing at 5/11 yd.--Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad.) Should I get the boy a suit? Ask Tommy. Then you will go to Geo. Fowlds and be satisfied at once.—Ad. Smith and Caughey's Summer Fair— Carpet squares in endless variety, all sizes, from 25/6. —(Ad.) Summer Clearance Fair—Full-size window blinds, in floral and plain designs, complete on patent spring rollers, now clearing at 1/ each.—Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad.) Three feet folding iron bedsteads with wire-wove mattresses complete for 30/. Special job line at Tonson Garlick Co.'s gigantic cash furniture sale.—Ad. "Clean sweep" prices in curtains, at McCullagh and Gower's famous sale, 1/6, 1/11, 2/6, 2/11, 3/11, 4/11, 5/11, 6/11, to 79/6; novelty window net for short blinds, 7|d, now 4Jd, Bfd, up, now s}d up.—Ad. At Smith and Caughey's fair! Holiday lounge sac suits, 5/11, 7/11, 10/11, 12/6; flannelette sacs and trousers, 5/11. The suits are exceptional value.—Ad. Special job line in rattan tables are selling from 7/6 at Tonson Garlick Co.'s gigantic cash furniture sale.—Ad. Superior rep. cretonnes for covering purposes; half usual. price. Smith and Caughey's (Ltd.) fair.—Ad. Furniture at the Fair—3-pieee bedroom suites, comprising wardrobe (plateglass panel), dressing table and washstand, wonderful value, clearing at £9 9/ during fair. — Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad.) At Tonson Garlick Co.'s you can purchase a very handsome teapot for 9d— a bargain.—Ad. Furniture at the Fa.r—Every article of furniture greatly reduced during Fair. —Smith and Caughey, Ltd.—(Ad.) Lace scarves, in Paris and white. 6in to 18in wide, usual price 1/8. 1/11, 2/11, 3/11. 4/6. 6/6. 7/11. clean sweep price Hid, 1/. 1/11. 2/3, 2/11, 3/11, 4/11 each; ladies' and children's lawn handkerchiefs, plain, fancy, embroidered, and lace edges, clean sweep prices, 1/ dozen, 1/8 dozen. 4 for 1/, and 3 for 1/.—At McCullagh and Gower's sale.—Ad. Life's handicap. Therefore start with the best advantages. Geo. Fowlds for caps of all descriptions.—Ad. Special line steel rail fenders 4/11. superior line brass rail fenders at 8/6. At Tonson Garlick Co.'s gigantic cash furniture sale. —Ad. Special reduction in men's mercery during the fair; 25 doz. men's silk mixture tennis shirts to clear at 3/11; 30 doz. men's cotton working shUrts 1/11; men's frame felt hats to clear at 2/11; men's b'nen collars 3d each, l/3_ doz.; men's strong drill working shirts 2/6 clearance prices.—Smith and Caughey Ltd.—Ad. At the fair, special lot odd lengths, cretonnes, figd sateens and Turkey chintz, about half usual prices. Smith and Caughey, Ltd. —Ad. Chenille hall curtains, i2/B per pair I during fair only. Smith and Caughev | Ltd.—Ad. Prints, from 2|d; crashes, from 4|d; white box dress, from 11/9; white embroidered blouse lengths, from 3/11: extra quality, spot and fancy silk, from lOfd —At McCullagh and Gower's famous ''clean sweep sale."—Ad.