THE “MILLION SHILLING NELSON FUND.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5737, 4 November 1905, Page 11

THE “MILLION SHILLING NELSON FUND.”

(From Our Special Correspondent.) , LONDON. September loth. New Zealand and the other eolonics will bo included in the privilege of helping with gifts from their schools, and from individuals and towns, and colonial seamen will participate in all the advantages of the Nelson Memorial Fund. The Secretary of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society informs mo that a Nelson Bust, containing copper from H.M.S. Victory, and mounted on a pedestal of oak made from the timber of the Victory is being sent through the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon to tho New Zealand House of Parliament, “with the hope that New Zealand will raise £50.” “All souvenirs and mementos given in England,” he adds, “will be given in New Zealand to’ children, schools, institutes, churches, etc., subscribing to the fund.” The object for which this One Shilling Memorial Fund is being raised deserves to be widely known. They comprise :

Nelson Free Beds, in connection with Jack’s Palace (endow a least six): and the Princess May Samaritan Fund, for seamen temporarily disabled, distressed, and destitute. (Names of donors can be associated with these or any of the following):— Nelson Free Scholarships (six, if possible). To assist Royal Naval Reserve men, and other seamen from the forecastle, to pass through the King Edward VII. Nautical School, and rise in their noble profession. These privileges, and all others, to be equally open to colonial seamen. Nelson Endowment and Extension of Jack’s Palace. Nelson Reading Rooms in various ports, and the completion of Sailors’ Rest in King’s Lynn, in Nelson’s County, close to his birth-place and to Sandringham. Nelson Memorial in Historic Malta, the greatest naval rendezvous in the world, and the scene of the famous New Testament Slrpwreck, viz.: The Endowment and proper equipment of the local Harbour Mission. Nelson Award for Heroism (such as Gold Watch or Medal) to be publicly presented at the annual meeting of the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society, to a seaman for some heroic act at sea in saving his brother seaman, or, “women and children first.” or exhibiting selfsacrificing consecration to duty. To be /

open to the whole brotherhood of the sea. The carrying out of the above suggestions in part or in their entirety must depend upon the amount subscribed to the fund. The copper removed from H.M.S. Victory, and the whole of the copper remaining from Lord Nelson’s former flagship, H.M.S. Foudroyant, has been given by the Admiralty to the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society, and been converted by them into Nelson souvenirs. Every town, school, or public institute giving £SO and upwards to the Centenary Memorial Fund will receive a piece of oak from the Victory, with a suitably-inscribed plate; a school collecting £5 5s and upwards a small oak shield, with a plate containing centenary “Victory” copper and suitable inscription ; £lO 10s and upwards, a “Victory” copper tray of special Victory design ; £25 and upwards a very fine shield of Victory copper mounted on oak; £SO and upwards will have a choice—a bust of Nelson containing Victory copper upon an oak bracket, or a simple block of oak from the Victory, with copper plate bearing a centenary inscription. Every child in the Empire who subscribes a shilling will receive a picture of Nelson and his flagship, coloured in red, white, and blue, and suitable for framing; and those subscribing 2s Cd will receive an illustrated Nelson booklet. A subscription of 5s secures a medal made from Victory and Foudroyant copper, and one of 6s a brooch of the same material, each bearing a picture of the flagship.