UNITED STATES FLEET

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 160, 31 March 1908, Page 8

UNITED STATES FLEET

SUGGESTED VISIT TO WELLINGTON. THE NAVY LEAGUE' MOVES. The Wellington branch of the Navy League ,has written as follows, to the' Prime Minister: ."Sir,—ln view .of. : the reportedintention of .tho .itTnlted' St,ites:, fleet to ..qall at; jtudk'7 land, there is a strong dt.>iro among members of, tlie League and 'the local public generally.' that; Admiral- Evans, should be asked to' ex-tend his-'visit to Wellington: v'lt;-has bebii suggested-that' ifit, bo found. imprac-. ticablo for ,the wholo of tlio licci io . come here,:. a number -. of - themore.. speody vessels might '.perhaps -be able' '.to s ! mako- a ' detour through Cook Straits en routevto' Austr.alia. ]We ! have, been asked to approach. you -as President of tho League throughout the Dominion ,to usp your kind lnfluenco" in the direption of giving, effect' to t-ho suggestion.-' °- aro > , slr > yours obediently, T. W. Hislop' President of the Wellington Branch of ■ the League, Cecil W. Palmer, Hon. Sec."

; COMPOSITION OF THE FLEET. , ?. ho P.nited States .fleet'. consists of the following vossels •— .'..v- '• IG.OOO-TON VESSELS. (Each 18 knots, -with 24 main: battery guns.) ■ Connecticut (Rear- :. . Kansas''' ' ' : Evans's•. 7 . :■ . ... ' a E s .hip)•.-VeiTHont;: '. t .- ■v - 14;948-TON VESSELS. (Each of 19 knots, with 24 main battery •" '. " ■ . 'guns.) .Georgia (Admiral's :Ne,w:Jersey." Flagship). Rhode Island. . Virginia. ...- ■ - , . 1 12,440-TON VESSELS. - (Each of'lß/knotsi ■ witli-20'main battery • . " Runs.) '9,., 1 . 0 ' :• . ■ Missouri.-. Maine. . --■ • ■ y 11,565-TON VESELS. . (Each of 17 knots, with 20 and- 22 main battory .guns-respectively.):,'- .v. 'Alabama (Admi- '• Illinois V ral's Flagship). . 11,540-TON VESSELS.

(Each of 17 knots, :with 22 main battery' - it- i i 5,1113 > ■.'v -Kentucky. - , • Kearsage Tho fleet is divided into two squadrons and four divisions Rear-Admiral Evans commands the. first: squadron:, and first; division; Itear-Admiral .Thomas commands tho seconci squadron and third division; n Rear-Admiral Lmory commands, the■ sccond division; and Koar-Admiral Sperry commahds the'fourth division Tho officers and men under RoarM 000 —" s s - command, : -numjier. '.about

RATING- ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. ■ '' - ' \7::'V; SYSTEM ABANDONED AT frCffifH-' * EAST VALLEY. « ' (BY TELEGRAPH—tEEM- ASSOCIATION ') 1 : .. 1 ' Dunodln, March 30. A poll was taken at North-east Vallej to•"W.S&S; proposal'.to discontinue, tho system ot rating on unimproved values, and to revert to rating™ capital values There were Jh™ \ X s ?" f h l r ? U ' onl y I|ttle more , tJian a third -of -that 'numbef', fyercise'd" the pnvilccg. The ; -result ,of.the : poll-Mvas' that,0 I tes , wtro ca ,st against rating on unimproved values and 185 'for it t| o borough sjstem ° re rCVe tllG capifcal val " e