TEE NAVY LEAGUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12519, 11 March 1904, Page 6

TEE NAVY LEAGUE.

SOCIAL TO MR. H. P. WYATT. A social tendered to Mr. H. F. Wyatt, 8.A., envoy from the Navy League, England (on the eve of his departure for South Africa), by the members of the Auckland branch of the league, took place at the Central Hotel last evening. There was a large attendance, and tho function passed off very successfully. The chair was taken by the Mayor (Hon. E. Mitchelson), the vice-chair being filled by Mr. W. B. Leyland, chairman of the local branch of the league.

' The Chairman read the following telegram received by Mr. F. G. Ewington from Mr. W. J. Napier, hon. secretary of the Auckland branch of the Navy League, who was unable to be present owing to his absence in Wellington:—"l regret I cannot be with you to-night to honour Mr. Wyatt. He has done yeoman service to the Empire, and 1 hope ere long his voice on behalf of the navy will be heard in tho Imperial Parliament. Kindly wish him bon voyage for me." An apology for absence was also read from Mr. A. Kidd, M.H.-R. ; The toast of "The King" was given by the chairman, and received with the usual loyal enthusiasm. The toast of "Our Guest" was proposed by the vice-chairman, who said that Mr. Wyatt had won the esteem and admiration of all with whom ho had come in contact, by his uniform geniality and courtesy, and bis zealous interest in the welfare of the Navy League. He wished Mr. Wyatt bon voyage and a successful tour in South Africa. (Applause.) The toast was drunk with musical honours. Mr: Wyatt, in responding, said that anyone who took up the cause of the Navy League and made a strong endeavour in promoting its growth was rendering a service to the Emnire. Whatever he had been able to do in this matter himself had been largely due to the active sympathy, kindness, and aid which had everywhere been extended to him in his travels. His only regret was he bad been unable to do more than he had done in respect to tho league, and to have thus assisted in a greater degree in furthering the important work in that great' Imperial vineyard, upon which so largely depended the strength, security, and combined growth ot the greatest Empire and the proudest people that the earth bad ever known. (Applause.) " The Navy League" was proposed by Mr. Gerald Peaeocko, who said that the promotion of the interests of the Navy League was one of the greatest services that could be rendered to the Empire. Not only was the maintenance of the Empire dependent upon its navy, but had it not been for her navy Britain as she was to-day could nevei have existed.

1 In acknowledging the toast Mr. Wyatt rei ferred to the importance of an adequate navy to any nation. He instanced_ the effectiveness of the Japanese navy, which in the pre- ; sent war with Russia had given Japan, for tho time being at least, the mastery of the seas in the Far East. Had the naval strength of Japan not been equal to the emergency her hopes of empire would have been crushed at the outset, and she would have been forced into tho position of a subjugated province of the Russian Empire. He pointed out tho advantage of the British navy, which had interposed between the Empire and the foes who were thirsting for her blood during the late South African war, and bad thus enabled the defects- in our military organisation to be remedied. He claimed that the present efficiency of the British navy was largely due to the work of the Navy League. There was a great deal to be done by the league, not only at Home, but in all parts of the Empire, in imbuing the people with a burning desire to see that the navy should be made equal to its tremendous task of maintaining its position as the ruler of the seas and the bulwark of the British Empire. The present was a critical time in the history of nations, and if New Zealand would guarantee to provide more men, or, say, £50,000 instead of £40,000, a year towards" tho navy, the moral effect as an example to other parts of the Empire and an objectlesson to the whole world would be out of all proportion to the material aid afforded. In concluding he said that the retention of the mastery of the seas meant a great and glorious future for the British race, but unless this supremacy were retained there was no hope for us, and there would be a farewell to all the grand traditions of the past, and the present mighty aspirations of the race as a factor in human progress, and the amelioration of the condition of all mankind. (Loud applause.) The health of the chairman was proposed by Mr. F. G. Ewington, and Mr. Mitchelson, in responding, expressed a hope that England would not be drawn into the present conflict, as if she were all the colonies would nrobablv suffer. - The toast of "The Host" Mr. Rolleston), proposed by the vice-chairman, and "The Press," proposed by Mr. Baume, M.H.R., w*ro also honoured. The speeches were interspersed with musical items, the programme, which was capitally rendered, beinpr as follows:—Song. " No Braggart's Boast " Mr. "Val. Atkinson: song,, "The Death of Nelson," Mr. Walter Whyte ; song. "The Gallants of England," Mr. Horace Stebbing; quartette, "The Farmyard Medlrr." the Star, late " Unique.' Quartette (Mr. W. Whyte, A. Asburv, V. Atkinson. K. Atkinson); sons'. "Oh! Oh! Hear the Wild Winds Blow." Mr. Karl Atkinson; song. " When the Empire Calls," Mr. Horace Sfebbin<r: song. "Lot Me Like a Soldier Fall." Mr. Walter Whvte ;«-song, "The Admiral's Broom," Mr. Val. Atkinson; song, " Drake's Drum," Mr. Thos. Allen. Mr. Tom Midgley acted a.* aecomnanist. The proceed!"-s terminated in the singing of "Rule Britannia" and "God Save the King."