FREE BATTLESHIPS FOR JOHN BULL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 176, 26 July 1909, Page 2

FREE BATTLESHIPS FOR JOHN BULL.

New Zealand's recent offer to present a Dreadnough to Britain, says a Home paper, is not an altogether unique occurrence, several of our colonies and dependencies having emulated her example in days gone by. Thus, in ! 1897, Sir Gordon Sprigg offered on behalf of the white inhabitants of South Africa, to give us a fully equipped first-cla-s battleshpip. The offer was accepted, but owing to the war it hung fire somewhat, eventually, bowever, materialising in the shape c£ the two first-class crusiers, Good Here and Natal. In 18S9 again, Australia ctntr:::uted no fewer than six ships to theImperial Navy. Each of these was a typically fine vessel o: her class, and out of compliment to the deters, they were given names reminiscent of their place of origin, one heinr caiied. for example, the Boomerang, a-ether the Wallaroo, a third the Bi::garoe:rE. and so on. So long ago as '.".'■: the AngleIndian community v Gone a oil y rot their hands in their pechem in cede:' to present the British Admiralaey --"':;';. three line-of-battleships carry:: - :: seven:;.* four guns apiece. The Gevorrmert gratefuly accepted the gift. bee vher. the vessels were built and de'.-.vcrc:'. it was discovered tha there were no sailors available for manning them. Whereupon the generous doner; jret up a second subscription, and by eyeing heavy bounties, enlisted the services of no fewer than six thousand seamen. These three gift shits were- ' also named after their country of origin, being christened respectively, the Carnatic, the Ganges, ana the Bombay Castle. 1 fn those days, too, our own maritime shires and tu-.vr.s. recognising how their very existence decerned upon a supreme and powerful navy, frequently went to the lererth c: rr> viding ships outright. „ erosm. :er instance, built and ooeirmo ore:: one. occasion no fewer than ;.:■_: _-rt::s;:s, which she handed ever with:::: tee er reward to the Government _t the are. Cardiff, Liverrcoi. Bdirdoog::. and other cities followed sole. .-uff:..-:. among the counties, o:- we._o:s:r:: herself by contributing nv v irigateS. ttsting over £100.0".-;: wl:ib- ;e*so: £:o: Cornwalleach gave a battle shin.