Hawke's Bay Herald. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1897. THE BRITISH NAVY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10646, 28 June 1897, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. MONDAY, JUNE 28, 1897. THE BRITISH NAVY.

The recent blookade of Crete by the fleets of the Powers called very prominent attention to the great superiority of the British vessels, This was nob only apparent in the way they were handled, bat la the vessels themselves, and in friendly conversation the officers of the foreign vessels frankly admitted the fuct, Mr W. Laird Cowes, who is accepted as no mean authority on naval affairs, has reoantly been telling the world what this demonstration of naval power in the Mediterranean meant. The Channel fleet had been despatched to Gibraltar, while the Mediterranean flaet gathered in the neighborhood of Crete and at Malta. The oonseqnenoe of this master was that dnrbg the time It lasted there was actually in the Mediterranean a fighting- fleet consisting of 42 ships, ranglog from nearly 15,000 tonß downward), besides an anx Wary fleet of sloops, despatch-vessels, torpedo boats, itore-ihlps, and other oraft, Some idea of the strength of their armament' may be gathered from a familiar Illustration whloh has been given, that if all the gnns in this enormous fleet were fired but onoe nearly 48 tons of projectiles would be expended, at a oost of £5000. Such a squadron, we are assured, has never before been assembled on any station, and there 1b no foreign equivalent for it in the world to-day, lbs superiority consists not only in the newness and formidableness of these ships, bat in the fact that within certain groups they correspondingly resemble eaoh other, so facilitating co-operation and the movement of orewa. Thai there are eight great battle-chips, eight elster cruisers, four others more heavily armed, and fleets of torpedo boats and destroyers. It is pointed ont by M r Clowes that it la this homogeneity whloh distinguishes the ships of the British navy from thoae of foreign Powers, France, ib is remarked, has many fine battle<sblpa and cruisers, bat they ore nearly all of different types, and offioere and men who have served in one do not necessarily know anything oi the peculiarities of other ships, So that in thh particular, on well as in modernnesa of construction, superior servlceablenetiß, and BOtnal numerloal strength, England Is well In advance of other nnblons, so much bo thai] it is now said that France would have to spend £22,000,000 annually for many years to make tho French flaet equal to tho English.

Faotw liko this, remarks a London paper, suggest the outline oi a plctnre of Britain's ooloeeal strength at sea. Bab If we go baok a few yoara and consider what enormotu strides havo been made in perfecting the natioa'a navy since the subject waa bronght np in earnest ten or twelve yeara ago, or more properly eight or nine years ago, It will be seen that thanks ere due Bomewbere for thla condition of prepavednees, 111 would be to little pnrposo If British naval officers were good civil administrators, or brave and efficient in their oalllng, If their chips were left to ohanoe and the material well, being of the navy aegleoted. Yet It wbb only in the late seventies that Mr Ward Hunt's atriotnrea on oar " phantom flaet" were received in very Indlffarent mood, and marked unwillingness was shown to spend the millions neoeesary to pat the navy in a state of efficiency, This is well explained in the recently-published life of Admiral Hornby. The fleet in 1885 is desoribed as having been as heterogeneous as oould well be conoeived, composed of "flat-iron" gunboats steaming seven knots an hoar, dangerous torpedo boftte, and ironolads that differed from eaoh other In almost every respect exoept that of being slow. When the jubilee demonstration was held in 1887 it it said that tally one-third of the. ships would have been sent back to port ai ageless had war broken oat, and a competent authority declared (that of the rest only about eighteen ships were fit for aotiva service. Now, as we have seen from the acoonnts of the demonstration In the Mediterranean, all this it changed. Our ships are modern, effective, and homogeneous in character. The writings of Admiral Colomb and Captain Mahan hava produoed some results in the popular mind as well as in that of the officialdom that bo worried Hornby during his term at the Admiralty, A telegram from the German Emperor bad the electric effeobof equipping a flyint? squadron and producing a vote for the millions required to put the navy In order, BDd tv? work now I taken seriously lv hand is not likely to be permitted to languish again in view of the disturbed peace-prospects find the magnltudo of the British interests to be protooted, The iltnatlon is coadensod Into a sentenoo by the anthors of •' The Navy and the Nation " when they remark io their introduction to that book, "Theoommand of the lea most now be held by Great Britain, and to this condition all others have beoome subordinate." We may be anre that the reoord reign oelebrations of last week will strengthen the determination of the British people to fnlfil this destiny, It is trne that the popnlar pageantry appealed rather to the military spirit. A naval review, however important, oannot be witnessed by great crowds, nor wonld the display appeal so directly to them. Bat the collection of troops from every quarter of the Qaeen'a world* wide dominions, and the presence of the colonial Premiere, will bring home to millions the iaot, but vaguely under-

Btood before, that the United Kingdom Is but a oorner of the Empire. It is the controlling and directing force, but it oontrols and dlreots Interest* so widespread and diverse that few comprehend their magnitude. The celebrations of last week will bo an objsot lesson in driving home a comprehension of this truth, And with that comprehension must also come the reflection that it la on the navy chiefly that the defence of such a scattered Empire mast rest, This onoe rightly nnderstood, and the willingness of the colonies to old in that defence made clear, we may be sure that the taxpayers of Great Britain will not begrudge the expenditure neoesaary to- provide an adequate navy,

On tbe fourth pagn will be found articles entitled "The Disaster In Paris," "The Occupation of Larhsa," "On Fire at Sea," "The Child' Marriage Iniquity In India," "Wood Paving In Great Britain," "Cattle In New Zealand," and " A Submarine Voloano."

A meeting of the (bod relief fund ereoutlve will ba beld at 3 30 to day.*

Colonel Pole-Penton will oommenoe hU Inspection of the Napier volunteers »t the Garrison Hall to- alght, when the Rifles will be reviewed.

Mr T. E, Donne, traffic manager of the Welllngton-Napler section of the Government railways, is at present in Hawke's Bay on a visit of inspection.

The Hon, J. Carroll, Colonial Secretary, acoompanled by hla private secretary, Mr

Wllleaton, left in the s.«, Dlngadee on Saturday night for Glsborne.

Jurors and witnesses are reminded that the Sapreme Cantt criminal sittings will oommenoe .before His. Honor Mr Justice Edwards at 10.30 a.m. today. The Argyle Hotel at Huntervllle, together with four shops, stables, &0,, have been purchased by Mr Thomas White, of Wellington, for £7000. Mr Justice Edward*, aooompanled by Mrs Edwards, arrived from Wellington by the expresa on Saturday night, and took rooms at the Criterion Hotel. Tuesday, jubilee day, watt the birthday of the Kiclio Honorable Richard J, Seddan, L.L.D., P C, M.H.8.. Premier and Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand. ' The horse that Mr Sandel, of Woodvilla, drew ia Tatceraall'e sweep on' the Maibland Cup failed to get a plane. The raoe was won by Qaadret, with Agate aeooad, and Newman third. The onm o! £115 5a 4d was taken at (he Cathollo boziar on Satnrday night, which makes the total to date £456 This, considering the very depressed times, mast be very gratifying ta the promoters. News comes from Western Australia of the death of Mr H. Rhys- Jones, formerly of the Melbourne Herald and Vallarat Post, lie was a olover journalise. The cause of death was typhoid fever, to which bo many are aucaumblng In that colony. At the preaent time there are over 100 fiver patients in the Perth hospital. A jubilee msdal, struck In 1760 in ootnmoniorntlon of the accession of George III. ; a mndal, dated 1830, In memory nf George IV., whose death took place in Jans of that year, and a diminutive medal, struck on the occasion of Queen Victoria's accession tn the Crown, are to the poa^eanlon of Mr G. H. Davlea, of the Native Department, Wellington. Attention la called to the advertisement of Messrs Williams and Kettle, in which they notify an Important sale of Hawk6's Bay bred cattle, consisting of a very attractive lot of fat and forward well-bred bullocks, oaw?, and weanera. Their wellappointed aalu yards have been now properly finished as regnrdi metalling, and additional oomfort afforded both for clients and stook. An accident befel Captain Russell and party (Mrs Knsael), Mlas Watt, and two others) whilst driving to the drag hunt at Rlverslea on Saturday, The horses in their o«riage beoame very restive, with the resnlt that the vehicle oapelzad. The Indies escaped by jumping out In time, bat Captain Russell was thrown to the ground, and unstained some Id juries, though fortunately not of a very serious nature.

A fortune of £100,000 in hard cash Is not oommon in' New Zealand. A well* known ranholder nnd fljxmlller In Marlborough, Mr J. C. Chaytor, of Marshlands, has just received notloe that owing to the death of a relative in Scotland he Inherits a fortnne of more than the amount mentioned, With one of his daughters Mr Chaytor intends to proceed to the family estate In Sootland by the next SaD Franolsoo steamer, At the residenoe of Mr R. Wynyard at One-Tree Hill, Epsom, last Tuesday morning, a salute was fired in honor of the Queen from an historical old brass nine-pounder gun whloh belonged to the French brig ofwar Alomene, whloh was wreaked on the northern ooast in 1851. The gun was presented by Connt D'Aroonrt, captain of tbe vessel, to General Wynyard, the aoting* Governor, whoso son now possesses the relic Captain Edwin wired at 12.10 p.m. on Saturday as follows :— Wind between eonth-east and east and north east at all places ; barometer fall everywhere ; sea heavy on east coist north of East Cape after 16 hours and heavy swell from thence southward ; tides high on east coast north of East Cape ; strong east winds with very cold weather are to be expected after 16 hours at all places north of Opotlkl, Tauronga, end Manakan. Flags were at half-mast at the Port on Satnrday in memory of Mr Louis Martin, ' who bad died at Wellington on Saturday | morning. Mr Martin had been resident i at the Spit for some years, being engineer of the B. a. Walhi and the s.s. Boojum. He was the only one aaved from the wreck of the latter when the disaster occurred in connection with the loss of the ablp Northumberland ten years ago. He was n man highly respeoted by nil who knew him, and leavea a wife aud family to monrn their loss. The Oamaru police have (says the North Otago Timet) had a remarkable case placed In their hands for elnoldatlon. Some time ago a resident of the southern part of the dlatrlot waa poaiessed of a cottage, a stockyard, and a oowsbed on a piece of land that he had not visited for some months, On visiting the property, however, he discovered that tho house, the stockyard, and tho oowsbed had vanished. It la eurmised that eomeoae In want of there oommoditiep, seeing them unoconpled, appropriated them. Strauge, however, as Id may eeem, nono of the neighbors appear to be aware where the house, stockyard, and oowsbed have gone to.

The Wanganui Chronicle vouches for the authenticity of a rather good story that la told In connection with the visit) of the Bishop of Wellington (Dr, Wallli) to the Upper Wnltotmra a few months ago. In conversation with one of the settlers hla Lordship asked whether there were many Episcopalians abont the district, and after a short pause the tettler referred to said, " Well, sir, I can't say there are, though a few yean ago they were very numerous ; what with gans and dogi and the advance of civilisation they seem to have disappeared from these parts." His Lordship did not proßs hla lnqnliiea any farther, bat we are told that he has come

to tbe oonolnaion that his friend mnst have thought! his question referred to the " parson " bird or tnl.

Kcreru, as usual, was to the fora on record reign day (writes a correspondent). A huge and brilliant bonfire might have been seen barnlng from 11 p.m. till after 12, lllnmlnating the whole oonntry for miles and miles. The men's whare, too, deserves speolal mention. It was taste*

folly and skillfully decorated and Illuminated, the window enneolally showing their loyalty to the Queen. A large plotnre of Her Majesty ooanpled the oentral pane, with " V.R. 1 ' on either Bide, which showed np beautifully on a Stainer ground, Jubilee trees were also planted on the hillooki. At midnight all hands oolleoted in Mr Anderson's dining-room, to sing the National Anthem, whloh they did with vigor and enthusiasm.

I Onr Waipawa correspondent writing on Saturday says :— The sitting officers of tbe Loyal Abboteford Lodge, M.U., 1 0 0.F., paid a fraternal vlilt last night to the Loyal Tavlstoak Lodge. The attendance was notab all large P.F.G.M. Bro. Jail addressed the meeting on the advantages of tbe Order. A hearty vote of thanks woe passed to the visitors, and to Bro. Jail for his address. It is understood that it is the intention of tha officers of Abbolsford Lodge to visit as many of the neighboring lodges as possible daring their term of cffioo.— A new sawmill bas been started near Onga Onga by Messrs David M'Lood and Co. It is in the vicinity of the seotlon advertised by the Pablic Trastse 1b yoar Issue of to-day, and is I am told bush land.

Stanley Gibbons's Monthly Journal, London, has tbe following item, whloh will be of special interest to the stamp oolleotora of New Zealand:— "We congratulate tbe oolleobors In New Zealand on having a philatelist appointed as their new Governor. Lord Raniurly is a wellknown collector here, and has been one of onr ollnnts for years. We hope that the New Zealand Phllatello Soolety will be able to seonre him bb their president, and we believe that his lordship will take a keen personal interest In stamps when he Rets to his new post " Many of the older iesnefl of Now Zealand are now objeots of mnch interest and tome controversy In Enrope, There ia no plaoe where they oan be batter studied than In thli colony, and some of the collections have more than a colonial repataMga,

Among the list of New Justices of the) Peace, whose names were published in the last Gazette (says tbe Christohuroh Praia) is a person who, we are Informed, is at present), and has been for some yean past, in receipt of charitable aid. Naturally, the faot has caused a good deal of oomment. Oplnlonß are divided as to whether the aoting-Premier la unaware of 'the elroumstanoes of the oase and has been hoaxed Into making the appointment, or whether he has deliberately taken this step with the view of showing the estimation In whloh beholds theoffioe of J.P. It is due, we think, to the holders of Her Majesty's Commission of the Peace that Mr M'Kenzle should explain olearly the grounds on whlob be has acted I In this particular Instance.

The meet of the Hawka's Bay hound* at Klverlea on Saturday was very successfol. The run was eventful for falls, bat taken throughout It Wan the best hunt of the season. Mr Harold Rnieell bod two spills from an nnsohooled horse, and Messrs E, Gllpin and T. W. Lewis also came to grief. What looked to the spectators a DHBtyfall was that of Mrs Snnderland, at the post and rails near the dairy factory. Fortunately she fell dear of her horsfl, and escaped wlthont injury, Mrs) Blroh bad an aooldent over the last Jump of the oonrse, b stirrup leather giving way. The double In tbe middle of the las^run ponnded most of the field, and was only negotiated by tbe master (Mr Sunderland), Mr and Mrs Blrob, tbe huntsman, Miss Donnelly, Messrs Lindsay, T, Groome, A. Williams, Bnd two or three others. The run conoladed with lunch at Mm M'Niven's.

A patty of bowlers from Napier were entertained by Mr and Mn Shirley on Saturday afternoon, all their residence, Mount Wensley, and they had a most enjoyable outing, After partaking of luncheon an adjournment wm made to Mr Shirley's private bowling green, which was In excellent condition considering the time Of year, Sides were chosen by Messrs Evans and Shirley, and an ln« tereitlng game resulted, the former winning by four points. Several ladies were amongst the party and witnessed the match, The following eompoied the rinks i— Messrs J. H. Scan, Monlson, Lalng, Evans (21) ; Meeara Fleldsr, Large, Beatson, Shirley (17) A return matoh was commenced, Laing and Beatson ohanglog players with Evans and Sbltley, but owing to tho fading daylight there was only time to play Bight heads, Lalng's men leading by a few points). The party returned to town about 5,50 p.m. The outspoken Prohibitionist member for Chrlstohuroh, Mr T. E. Taylor, evidently does not approve the honors showered npon his leader. " The Kightr Honorable Dr. Richard John Seddont" he remarked in bitter tones at the temperance meeting last evening. "It only requires that be should have the title of Dootor of Divinity to make the farce complete," The audience laughed heartily! Mr Taylor later on referred'to the administration of the laws of the colony, whloh ho snld they would expeor, in a country with co very advanced and oomplete a democracy as possessed by New Zealand, to ace administered fairly and honestly wlthont fear or favor. As It wa>, however, in Ciutha for instance, the law was absolutely suspended, and in the King Country it was praotleally suspended. These two faota we<e a dlsgraoe to any democracy. Tho difficulty waa to tell who waa to blame, He oonld tell them that if he and others cnnld work together in the House during the next two or three 1 yeara some o) them would find oat. (Loud applause.)— Prtii. The general committee of the late military sports met at the Masonlo Hotel on Saturday night, Mr Paflett in the chair. The balance- eheet was passed and Bhowed receipts £135 6s 8d and expenditure £95 4« Id a« followB :— Printing and advertising £19 10a 3d, Recreation Ground Company £21 15<, ground caretaker\£4 4», prizes £36 10*, luncheon for band and cfflolals £5, Rymer £2 lOi, sundries £5 14s lOd, leaving a oredlt balance of £40 2s 7d, The secretary was instructed to write to Mr M, Laeoelles. eonveylng the thanks of the committee to that gentleman for selling the privileges In connection with the sports wlthont any oharge for advertising or commission. On the motion of Mr Gllberd, eeoonded by Mr Cnnnlngbam, It was resolved that the balance be handed to tbe trustees of the garrison f -r a sinklog fund to pay off the liabilities on the drlllahed. Votes of thank* were passed to tbe chairman [Mr Paflett), whose energy had gone a long way towards tbe success of the demonstration, and to tho officials, also to thn veterans for their assistance. The officers of the garrison are to be asked to pay for a framed photo of all the winning teams, whloh will be placed In the drlllahed ai a lasting record of the day. The Cathedral congregation was greatly disturbed yesterday morning by the extraordinary behavior of an individnal who had seated himself in one of the ohalrs olose to the ohanoel. The man In question, who, we understand, is nob a resident of Napier, first attracted attention by slnelng in a very lond voice and prolong* ing the air after the choir bad finished. He also repeatedly endeavored to take oharge of the whole ohoir by ostentatiously waving his hands and endeavoring to keep time with the organ. Farther, when Dean Hovell made the usual announcement of services and meetings to be held during the week, onr excited friend signified hit approval by an emphatlo "Hear, hear," whloh was nttered lond enough to be heard all over the building. Under these circumstances, it may easily be Imagined that the Daan had considerable difficulty in conducting tho service, espcolslly as during the sermon be was occasionally Interrupted by the unwelcome visitor loudly clapping the back of the ohair next him, probably by way of approval of the Dean's remarks or otherwise. The whole affair was most unseemly In a place of worship, but we understand that the reason the churoh authorities did not Interfere waa owing to the fear that a scene might occur which would probably be still more discreditable. A correspondent! writes from Kerern :— I wish through your publio columns to. call tbe attention of the mall authorities to the foot that, especially on an eventful occasion of this kind, we have had no mall or news of the outilde world for a whole week, and It Is advertised by the mail contractors aiPB biweekly one. This 1b amusingly contrary to their advertisement, allowing Jubilee < Tuesday, 220 d, to be a pnbllo holiday. Surely arrangements conld have been made to bring it up the following day'. Evidently tbe neighborhood was disappointed, as we all rushed the pott-office on Wednesday, most of the unfortunate ones having long dark rides, This is nob the only oocaslon, (is on most pnbllo holidays the same thing happens— no news nntll the following mall day. Tea, even the agricultural show deprives na of the mall. How do these selfish or thongbtlesa people know the sad tidings these mall bags might contain, or financial correspondence ; are not our relations, ftiendi, end interests in life of quite as mnoh importance as those who ore near telephones, post and telegraph offices, and places of amusement generally. I trust this will meet the eyes and consideration of those in fault. Many have oomplained prl« vately, but borne It quietly nntil now, and I wonld ask those In authority to attend to a matter which oauaes as often

great Inconvenience.

Owing; to the numerous and valuable artloles yet to be disposed of at tbe Catholic bazaar the committee have been compelled to continue their Bale of work again to-night, when oil the raffles will take place, commencing at 8 o'olook. The committee bad Intended to anotion the remainder of tbe goods on Saturday, bat this wbs fonnd impossible with the very large display still on band, and In 00010---quenoe many articles bad to go at a very reduced prloe. The sale wlllbe continued to-morrow nnless all the artlolei are disposed of this evening. There waa eonilderal interest taken In the raffling for tbe " Jubilee Queen," which fell to the Rev. Father Yardin. Other prizes were won by the following :— Eiderdown quilt (silk and satio), Mrs Slmmondi; dessert knives, Mrs James Boas; drain pipe (hand painted), Mrs Pergent ; handpainted opal, Miss Reid; oushlon, Bb D. O'Ronrke; pair of fsnoy wall brackets, Rev. Father Bell; footstool, Mr Henderson ; smoking cap, Mr Healop ; hand-painted opal, Mr Coagrove ; tok stand, Mr W. Jeffarei, Taradale; gold ring, Mine Madden; cabinet bos, Mrs Temperley ; handsome wall mirror, Miss Nellie Rogers ; large doll, Mr J. Morgan ; mantel diape. Rev. Father Grogan; onshlon, Miss Olson j tea set, Mr M'Hardy; table, Mrs H. Humphries ; mantel drape, Miss Nn« eont ; oil palntiDg, Mies Coffey ; eiderdown qnllt, Miss Reid. Various other pilzsa were won during the evening. The bazaar will be wonnd np with a grand soolal. To-night Mr Newbonld's bscd will plsy a nuAber selection's, and Mrs Roes and Mlia Drop* sey (Waipawa) and others will contribute solos.

Berlin cablea on May Bth to English papera stated: —Emperor William bag been unusually bnsy this week reviewing troops and aaalstlng at (he test exercises with the view of introducing the qulokfiring cannon into the army. This will be doDs secretly end oadtlonsly, for fear of arousing France and Bmaia. The new field gans have been thoroughly tested in three artillery reglmenta in this viotnlty, another In Silesia and one In Bavaria, and they have proved emin> eaMy encceiefal. They are of Ernpp'i < make and ore lighter and of smaller calibre than the old gnus.' On Wednesday, after the mscauvres on the Pernadet field*, near Potsdam, J n whloh five regiments of the gnard took part, the Emperor had the troops form a tqnaro . «nrt addreMed them, «xpr«dng hU iatU. faction Id the|r efficiency and. e^uJpmenV

a

and his indignant regret at the foot that flhe Relobstag would not grant tho mennu for rendering the German navy as formidable. On Tuesday, stter reviewing the entice garrison of Stettin, the Empevor made a similar addtoss tfo »ac troops, sharply rebnklng tho Eeiohstag for Its nnpatrlotlo conduot. Emperor William has in no way abandoned hie naval plans. On May 2nd Admiral Tlrpltz, the author of the oft quoted naval memorial and the prospective Bucceosor of Von Hollnmnn as ahlof of the Naval Department, will arrive in Berlin from Japjn, end will nt once have an andlence with the Emperor, who hopes Admiral Tlrpltz will bo better able to indnc3 the Reich, atag to grant tho snm neoessary to carry out the naval scheme, Emperor William's cutting remarks about "men without patriotism," which were nsed not only in a teloaram to his brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, but also in a public address delivered at Carlnrnhe in reply to the greetings of tho municipal Officials of that place, have created a seneatton. In bis Mcjesty's telegram to Prince Henry he commanded him to attend the celebration ol Queen Viotorl&'a diamond jubilee with the Germtn orniser Koenlg Wllhelm, and, regretln.^ bis ln« ability to send a better ship, ttie Emperor ■aid : " This Ib the result ot the conduct of the unpatrlotlo people vho refused the recent oredits for thp uavy." H«rr Bebel, the Socialist leader, referred to the matter in thi>, Reiohßtag, quoting the Emperor's Wjrd« and condemning them, The Koeln'taoh Volkt-Zeitung, tbe leading Centrist organ, »ays: "These words condemn themselves, 1 ' and advises the Emp'ator to see if a majority of the nation at t'be Reiohstag elections endorse his pet p/dhome more than the present Reichstag, adding, " The Reiohitsg must insist npon more respeotfnl treatment.' 1