THE-SMILE-CASTLE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 March 1929, Page 16

THE-SMILE-CASTLE

THE CASTLE PLEDGE.

I promise to smile every time I can, and chase aU th frowns into the dark cave, where the Smile Giant will kill them with his Magic Sword Happiness.

My Dear Smiles, — ' 1 hope that many of you will be able to see the warship at New Plvmouth. Much to'my regret, 1 will not be able to see it myself—and there is nothing I llk e better than inspecting a battleship.. However, I hope all m\ Sm who have the good fortune to go over the vessel wiU v lite and tell me their impressions of 11. M.&. Dunedin and also describe the journey to the port. I suppose there is none of us who doesn’t feel a thrill of pride at the si o ht of a British warship. To see one at its very best one needs to see one of these huge grey monsters silently slipping into or out of a port—they give an impression of immense power. I hope you all take an interest m the British Navy, Smiles, for we owe it such a lot. When you look upon the “Dunedin” just remember for a little time that the Mother Country keeps many such ships afloat on the ocean in many parts of the world in order that British subjects everywhere may live in peace and security. Has it ever struck you what a wonderful thing it is that the British Navv should have so long remained supreme? From the davs of the “old wooden walls,” as the lighting ships were called before the days of steam, English ships and English sailormen have proved their worth at sea, fighting ie battles of the Old Country. Times have changed indeed since the days of Drake and others of Queen Elizabeth s great sea captains no longer do ships spread their sails to voyage out in search of an enemy, returning with the prizes of war, but the great grey monsters which patrol Britain’s sea roads round the world do work much more valuable, though they do not have to fire their guns. We in New Zealand do not, perhaps, think often enough about our Navy and all it means to us in peace and security, but now that we have vessels of our own in our waters you children who are at school to-day will have better opportunities than your parents had of learning something about it at firsthand. I know that those of you who see the “Dunedin” will have a most interesting tune, and 1 hope you will have lots to tell me when you write again. Love to you all, SMILE QUEEN.