THE NAVY LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 549, 2 July 1909, Page 7

THE NAVY LEAGUE.

ANNUAL DEMONSTRATION

The >'u\y Leagno's demonstration in tho Town Unll last evening waa nn nssuiod success from thu moment of its commencement. More than fcq hundred school cluldieii, UnKllnj; with excitement «nd enthusiasm, weio M»fe to can) oft anj entertainment with a flouribh, and in addition to then patriotic ohoruses. nnd club drill there were gymnastic displays, cutlass drill, dances, and a presonta-ti&n-—surely a ninety to f>uit all tastes The' Town Hall wns crowded, and the Acting Pnmo Minister (the Hon, Jiimcs Carroll} presided Tho mn*<cd singing of Uio children was tho great featuro of tho f\emng ,Tliey revelled in tho-tf rollicking dittiee, "Tho Butish Grcnadiois," "Hearts of Oak," and "Tho Tight Little Island," nhioh assoit a ohearful and unreasoning confidence in Butish invincibihtj, characteristic of tho daye of'"flat bottoms-, and hand grenades, when they were written, before statistical comparisons became the gloomy fashion, Tho children folly realised (he older epirit, and the "hurrah, boys," of their Grenadiers waa * liko the! triumph ehout of nn army. A display of fancy club swinging by gjrls of the Wellington (Physical Training School was ,deservedly greeted with tho most applause The clubs were illuminated, and'on a darkened stage, their mazy evolutions had a most art;stio effect. Tho boya of the training school, under Mr Doiey, gave a gymrnifitio dieblay, in which sorao tiny athlete repeated the, /impressive feats of the peniorp with spirit and success, and formed Unke ako m sqme clover etatu- I tary work A squad of Bluejackets from the Pioneer gave a pleasing exhibition of cutlass drill, Mi-is Flora Shaw is o Uttlo lady who danced tho Highland tfhng. ddishtfuly, to a batrnipo aceompammont i Petty, Officei Powell and Stoker Wheatlond, of the Pioneei, gave a double hornpipe 'in good foim; Stnff-Smaeon Murphy, B JJ, showed himself a proficient sleight-of-hand artist, and Uγ JJa'rolq "Widdop sang effectively the humorous song from "lolnnthe,", "When Britain Kcallj Enled the Waves " The Acting-Prime Minister (tho Hon. James Carroll), in a brief address, refeired to the propaganda of the Kavj League as a high and noble mission, and stated that the local branch had made strenuous offorU and had achieved remarkable things in promoting the movement to tho extent it bad. He dwelt on the importance of the Navy, and said that New Zealand could not afford to hang back with regard ifl the,-support due towards its maintenance, lie was prond to have the prnilego of attending the demonstration that had been so admirably out' ' ( Commander Blun,t, RN, presented the ladies' challenge ehiold to tho bbjs of the starboard watch of tho Amokura \The shield is of 'Toudroyunt!' copper on "Victory" oak, and l> to be competed for annually between tho starboard and port watches in boat' drill, tho competition consisting of running [out and weighing a Kedge anchor Tho time, taken bj the winnors'this yeai was lOmin 29sec. The port watch being only 36scc behind! Iho starboard watch.' "Tho timo was extremely creditable to all CoßGoroe<V' ?aid Commander Blunt, "and t could not wish to *ee it better done in my own ship." Some important remarks with regard to safeguarding the physique of the coming generation, and'findmg employment for ex-sailors were then mado bj the commandor, and are reported in another column. > The demonstration concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, led by, the massed chorus, ilr P J. Oak.es was conductor of the choruses, and Mr D Kenny organist I After-wards-three cheers were given for themUjy the children, on the call of Mr. 0 Palmir, the untiring secretary of the league, who chiefly organised iho demonstration. 1 > (