NEW ZEALAND AND THE FLEET.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 26 May 1917, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND AND THE FLEET.

THE HUMAN TOUCH

The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs (Mr J. His--1ot>) has received advice from the High Commissioner (Sir Thomas Mackenzie) that certain sums contributed by people in New Zealand for the benefit of men of the Grand Fleet had been duly received; and in forwarding a receipt, the hon. secretary of the Grand Fleet attaches, for the information of subscribers, the following copies of letters from Admiral Beatty and Commodore Halsey to the High. Commissioner: H.M.S. Iron Duke. December 6, 1916. Dear Si' 1 Thomas, —The captain of the fleet has informed me of the exceedingly generous gift which has been made to the Grand Fleet Fund by tbe people of New Zealand. I am touched by this very practical evidence of the sympathy which exists between our fellow countrymen beyond the seas and the Navy. I am informing the fleet of the magnificent donation which is being made for their benefit, and on their behalf I thank the donors Tery much. , . ' Yours sincerely, (Signed) DAVID BEATTY. Admiralty, S.W., December 9 S 1916. My Dear Sir Thomas, —I have to-day received from mv successor as the captain of the fleet a letter dated December 1, informing me that an amount to the value of £4646 Os 4d has been allocated to the Grand Fleet Fund. An official receipt will be sent, but aa president of the fund I desire To express to you, on behalf of the officers and men of the fleet, my most sincere thanks for the very generous subscription to the fund, which will eventually be spent in the relief of those men of the navy who are incapacitated during the war. . . I trust you will convey the very grateful thanks of the fleet to the Dominion of Nevr Zealand for their generosity.—Believe me, yours very truly,, (Signed) LIONEL HALSEY, Commodore.