THE BATTLESHIP NEW ZEALAND PRESENTATION FUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12989, 2 June 1904, Page 14

THE BATTLESHIP NEW ZEALAND PRESENTATION FUND.

10 THE EDITOR. Slß,—lll your issue of last Saturday you state that enough has been received to ensure the success of the above movement. As that is hardly a correct statement, and might somewhat influenco your readers against subscribing to the fund, with your kind permission 1 will state how far we have prospered in the matter. As you, Sir, are aware, the school cliildren's pence subscriptions will go towards providing some suitable present emblematic of the colony for the battleship New Zealand (not a piece of plate for thu officers' table), engraved "From the Children of New Zealand." The present will be fixed in a prominent part of the ship, where it can be seen by oflicers, crow, ajid visitors to the vessel. It might be a silver bell, shield, or trophy. The committee will l>c glad to receive suggestions on th* matter. Lady Itenfuriy has been requested to reore-

sent the colony and carry out our wishes and make the presentation. Judging by the way the schools, far and near, are responding, amplo will be subscribed to make- the gift from the children worthy of the colony. So far the Arthur Street School 13 the only Dunedin school that has forivarded anything to the fund. The adults' shilling subscription wril go towards establishing a fund the interest on vfliich will be spent annually in prizes for good' gunner}' on the battleship or her successor for all time. Tho collections so. far for that purpose amount to somewhere about £200. Tho half of that amount has boon collected in and about Timaru. The local bodies of the Ashburton Count}' hare also responded liberally. Tho Borough of Masterton has also done exceptionally well, forwarding no less than £32, With tho exooption pf the amount of £4- 2s kindly forwarded by tho editor of tho Otago Daily Times, Diroedin has dono nothing. I believe that the movement will be successful. I lihiuk we should not rest till we have at least, say, £1000, which, if invested at i per cent., would produce £40 to be divided 'in prizes for . the . thieo dosses of guns on the battleship.. You will agree ■ with me, Sir, that good straight shooting ought to be encouraged, and by instituting this fund it would let the naval authorities sec that we of this colony reeognjso tho importance- of .good gunnery. The citizens of Dunedin •»!«_ well known to bo as patriotic as those in any otlie? part of the colony, and I am convinced that it only needs someone to tako tho lead to ensure the movement being as successful in tho southern city as it lias boen hero and other parts of the colony. In Timaru we enlisted' tho active assistance of the ladies, who formed a committee and canvassed the various parta of tho town, with most gratifying results. We found that in nearly every case tl>o adults wore only waiting to be asked to give their shillings, though they would not tako the trouble to send them along to the committee, and ill is scarcely to be expected they would. May I suggest that the ladies ehouli take the matter tip in Dunedin! Xow Zea. landers without exception aro prowlof thoin relationship to tho Great British Empire, and they will lie .glad of the opportunity to give expression to tho special pride they feel in our wonderful navy. Tho Admiralty line paid us-a genuino compliment in having named one of tho nation's finest battleship alter this colony, and this movement in favour of a presentation to that vessel is. a very pleasing way in which we caif give expression to our appreciation of that compliment. > I trust, Sir, that tho Otago peopfe will now tako the matter up as enthusiastically as it has been received in South Canterbury and other parts of New Zealand.—l/ am, etc.. James Craigie. Timam, May 31.