NAVY LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 826, 26 May 1910, Page 3

NAVY LEAGUE.

ANNUAL EEPOKT OP WELLINGTON BEANCn. The report of the Wellington branch I of. tho Navy League, to Ijc presented at the annual meeting to bo held on Wednesday next, states that during the year there had been a slight increase in the . adult membership, but the revenue there- , from (1118 17s. Gd.) was still very much below what it should be. There had been a large accession of juvenile momt bers during thu year, both locally and in connection with the several country branches established by II r. Palmer. Tlio sum of ,£S7 ]2s. Gd. was remitted to London to cover the cost of books for schools, badges, maps, lantern slides, and JM2 13s. levies on adult "subscriptions to cover i the cost of the monthly supply of "Tli-o Navy ' and postage. I'lie total vevcjiue for tlio year was £m 15s. Id., and the . expenditure ,£4OB *&>. Cd., leaving a bal- . aiice in hand at. March 31 of JEI39 19s. Sd. The anniversary of Trafalgar was celebrated by "saluting tho flag" ceremonies, the singing of patriotic songs, [ the delivery of appropriate addresses at - the schools. In the evening a Trafalgar supper was held, when stirring speeches were made by his Excellency Lord I'lunI ket, Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr. Foster j Eraser. Tho report refers to a number of lau- ! tera lictiires delivered in the provincial towns by Mr. Palmer, which resulted in a number of school branches being . formed. For some time past tho league ! had urged upon the Marine Department and some of the. harbour boards tho advantages of Morse lamp signalling at night. Several of tho boards had adopted 1 the system, and it was understood that the Marine Department was now making arrangements to equip each of the principal lighthouses on the coast with a j lamp-signalling outfit. Recently tho local executive waited on > the Wellington Harbour Board, and urged that .steps should bo taken to - slightly widen the clock now in courco . of construction so as to inako it capable 3 of taking warships of tho Dreadnought f type. The authorities had tho matter 1 in hand and further developments wero • anticipated.. The Imperial Defence Conference held in London in August last' might well (states tho report) be described as an epoch-making event in' tlio Empire's history, and Sir J. Ward and all New Zcalanrlers should be proud to think that tho summoning of the conference was very largely tho result of the niiicli-talked-of "Dreadnought' offer" made by this Dominion. As time went on the Brim fact must be realised more and more by the peoples of the British Dominions oversea that tho safety of their trado and the aetnal exigence of the , Empire as a wholo was only obe secured ' by the undoubted supremacy of one allpowerful fleet under ono control. j References aro also made to tho visit to Wellington of. Lord Kitchener, tho ' work of the women's branch of the league, and tho league entertainments given during the year. j His Excellency the Governor is to bo present at the annual meeting on Wedr nesday next. : EXECUTIVE MEETING. . ' A. special meeting of the local cxecu- ;• tiyo of. the Leaguo was held on 1 Tuesday ' night, to make arrangements for the np- ■" pi'oaciiing unnunl meeting. Mr. Wrn. j " Frnser (the president) was in the chair, 0 and there were ten members of the executive also present. ' Owing to King Edward's death, it was 3 unanimously dccideil 10. postpone the pio- - posed Town Hall demonstration till, tho 1 evening of August 10. ? Tho annual, account!! were, finally npr proved,' the main items being as fallows: 5 —Receipts: Subscriptions and donations, - JJI9S Us. Gd.; sales of books, badges, and slides, .£43 2s. Id.; receipts from bnll. l supper, and other public functions, ! including advertisements on programme, r .£222 Is. 9d. Expenditure: Office c.x----i, penses, postages, stationery, printing, - advertising, 4MG 125.; clerical and traveli ling - expenses, .£2G (is. 9i1,; remittances to 1 London head 'office for school books. 3 badjes, etc., .£B7 12s. Gd.; levies on adult i subs., £12 135.; expenses of.public funct tioris, .C 199 IDs.. 3 It wAs decided to order 1000 conies of a 5 cheap edition of Rudyard Kipling's "A ; Fleet in Being," for the senior pupils at 1 tlio School branches.