TRAFALGAR DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1931, Page 11

TRAFALGAR DAY

VISIT TO SCHOOLS

NAVY LEAGUE DELEGATES

In honour of Trafalgar Day, nine delegates, representing tho Wellington branch of the Navy League, visited several schools in Wellington to-day. The first school visited was tho Wellington Boys' College. All the boys and masters assembled in the Memorial Hall, where they listened attentively to an address by Mr. R. Darroch, secretary of the league. Among others present were Mrs. J. P. Firth, vice-president, Mrs, W. Perry, and Mrs. C. E. Finch, members of the Ladies' Auxiliary, Miss M. Brien, and Miss Brown, members of the girls' branch of the league, Messrs. J. C. Crawford, C. W. Palmer, and Colonel St. John Bcere, members of tho executive. An apology was received from Mr. W. Perry, president of tho league. Mr. W. A. Armour, headmaster, extended a welcome to the delegates.

Mr. Darroch said that tho -celebration of Trafalgar Day every year was commenced at the time of the foundation of the Navy League, thirty-six years ago. Thero were great celebrations in London iv honour of tho occa-sion,-and Nelson's monument in Trafalgar Square, with its base covered in wreaths, was a wonderful sight. Towards the end of the eighteenth. _ century there were many great admirals, said Mr. Darroeh. There were .meu such as Hood, Powell, Jorvis, and Duncan, men who were skilled in scafare and warfare, but their fame was eclix«ed by tho dazzling splendour of Nelson's career, and the glory of his death. Those men were giants in the Navy at that time, but' Nelson stood out head and shoulders above them all.

Mr. "Darroch punctuated 1113 address with some interesting facts concerning the moTO important battles in which Nelson participated. ■At tho conclusion of tho address about 60 boys of the school, who had completed seven years' service as members of the Navy League, were presented with long service medals. Each boy present was then given souvenir photographs of Lord Nelson and His Majesty the King. Later in tho day tho delegates visited the Wellington East Girls'' College, Marsden' School, Karori, Marsdcn Preparatory School, Fitzherbort Terrace, Wellington Girls' College, and St. Madeline's Convent. AFRICAN WAR ANNIVERSARY. Trafalgar Day is also tho thirtysecond anniversary of the departure of the first New Zealand contingent to South Africa, and the surviving members of the contingent will celcbrato the occasion by holding their, annual dinner at tho Dominion Tanners' institute to-night. Sir A. Kobin, who commanded the contingent, will preside.