H.M.S. ZEALANDIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1912, Page 3

H.M.S. ZEALANDIA.

RENAMING CEREMONY AT PORTSMOUTH. NEW ZEALAKD AND THE NAVY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, let December. "As the name "Now Zealand" has been, given to the battleship cruser presented to the Empire by the Dominion, the present battleship New Zaland, which was launched in 1904 and is now serving m the Portsmouth Division, of the Honu> Fleet, was this afternoon re-named by Lady Sail- Jones H.M.S. "Zealandia," a name which has not previously appeared in the Navy list. The re-christening was an interesting ceremony, intended to mark the continued clcee connection of the ship with the Dominion. It will be remembered that when the New Zealand was originally commissioned the school children of the Dominion entered heartily, into a scheme —which had its origin in Timaru, with Mr. J. Craigie, M.P.— to present the man-ot-war with something essentially belonging to New Zealand. This took the form of a silver bell, suitably inscribed which is much prized by the whole ship's company of the battleship. Later the schoolchildren gave a handsome shield for shooting competitions, while an additional sum of £500 raised in New Zealand provides annual prizes for shooting 1 amongst the crew. A photograph of the late Mr. Seddon andL other picture* adorn the officers' quarters, so that altogether the association of New Zealand with the vessel is very effectively marked. AT PORTSMOUTH. It was felt that the present small ceremony should also be marked in some way, co a limited party of representative New Zealanders were present, Sir Wilham and Lady Hall-Jones were invited to bring a party of friends, who included Miss Hall-Jones, Sir James and Lady Mills, Mr. Arthur E. U. Rhodes, and Mr. A. Kidd. Mrs. Rhodes and Mrs. Kidd were unable to be present. Flag-lieutenant Lionel Foote met the High Commissioner at Portsmouth, and conducted the party by motor and launch to the vessel, where Sir William was received with a general salute, and welcomed by Rear-Admiral A. Y. Moggridge, Flag-Captain Buller, Commander Stevenson, and Staff-Pay-master C. M. Gavin. The day being Queen Alexandra's birthday, all the ships in the harbour were gaily decorated with flags, and at 12 noon a royal salute of 21 guna was fired in honour of the event. A few binutes before 12 Admiral Moggridge led the way to the captain's deck, \vnence an uninterrupted view of the harbour could be obtained, and the party were interested to see the famous old Victory join in the salute. THE BELL AND SHIELD. The bell and shield given to the vessel from New Zealand were carefully examined. It is understood that the Zealandia will retain both" theeo gifts, though the ma-tter is essentially one for the New Zealand Government to decide. The boys and girls of New Zealand will be interested to know that their gift is greatly appreciated. The motoo on the shield runs : "Kia whiti tonu te ra ki runga ki a koe" (May the/ sun ever smile ite brightest rays upon you). The Maori words are also conspicuous on the 12in guns, and replicas of the Maori heads from which the bell is suspended are also employed for the tompions'of the big guns ; while a, line British bulldog on board answers to the name of Maori. THE CEREMONY. , A number of other naval officers and ladies arrived, and when 'the ceremony commenced there were present on the quarter deck, besides 'the, New Zealand party, Mrs. and Miss Moggridge, Command er-m-Chief Sir Arthur. Moore, Miss Moore, Miss Mar;orie Moore, Paymaster-iii-Chief Harrison Smith and Mrs. Harrison Smith, the Rev. A. 'H. C. Fargus (formerly in the Encounter), Miss Williams, Commodore J. B. Eustace and Mrs. Eustace, and Flag-Lieutenant Chilton. The crew were also assembled. Addressing the company, Rear-Ad-miral Moggridge said : "I think it is fitting, and it should be interesting, if I explain the reasofir of the ceremony of renaming the ship. This ship had to be renamed because the Dominion of New | Zealand has built a new battle cruiser, a fine vessel of 19,000 tons and 44,000 h.p. To some of the uninitiated it may' seem clearer if I say she is 3000 tom> larger than this ship, and two and a-half times the horse-power, and they have presented her to the nation, so it is naturally considered appropriate that she should bear the name New Zealand. As to the name Zealandia, that was selected so as to continue the association or nominal bond between the people of New Zealand and this ship, for when this ship was first commissioned, in 1905, the people of New Zealand took a sympathetic interest in her." Referring to the gifts then made, the Admiral said that there was £22 10s available each year to be divided amongst the crew as prizes for efficiency in shooting. "As an example of the whole-hearted spirit which" inspired this gift, the ixon. secretary (Mr., Fraser), on hearing that target, practice had. taken place, and, that no dividend was yet available, sent a cheque out of his own pocket, so that the men should not be disappointed. While I am on the subject I should like to say at word about the loyal liberality of the Dominion in ' presenting the nation with the new battle cruiser. She will, when finished and> ready for the pennant, cost about £2,000,000, and as the population of New Zealand is about one million, it does not require any intricate calculation to discover what she will cost each inhabitant. Generosity is not calculated entirely in £ ,s. d., but my statement will show you that they back their loyalty by something moie than words. (Applause.) It is now my pleasant duty to convey to Lady nail-Jones the thanks of the offi- • cers and' men of this ship, and to assure Sir William Hall-Jones that the appreciatioii'of the Dominion's generosity in 1905 is in no way dimmed by the change of name." (Applause.) Sir William Hall- Jones thanked RearAdmiral Moggridge for the opportunity given to New Zealand to be represented that day. He reminded the company that when the Dominion gave the I battle cruiser it had only completed its I seventieth year. They liked, however, j to talk of the new ship as the Dreadnought, because, with the Mother Country and oversea Dominions hand in hand, they had need to Dread nought. The young nations wevo growing into big nations, and their hearts were with the Motheiland. They loved the Old Country, and especially those connected with the British Navy. If they were loyal to their King and to one another they need have no fear of the future of this great Empire. .The Rev. A. 1 H. C. Fargus having read a prayer, Lady Hall-Jones .said : "I rename this ship Zealandia. May God bless 1 and prosper all those who sail in her." After this came the Royal Salute and the^ National Anthem, and the ceremony con* j eluded. Before the- crew returned to quarters Sir William called for three cheers for the Zealandia. These were given with a will, and then followed three for Lady Hall-Jones, v Rear-Ad-miral Moggridgo then entertained the party to ljyicb,.