DOWN THE HARBOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16296, 1 February 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

DOWN THE HARBOUR.

At 2.50 p.m. the s.e. Dunedin left tho wharf, carrying as the rruests of tho Otago Harbour Board Mr Fisher, Mr Boyd, the Hons. J. Allen, T. Mac Gibbon, M.L.C., and J. T. Paul, M.L.C.. Messrs J. Craigje, M.P., A. Walker. M.P., and T. X. Sidey, M.P., the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. B. Shacklock), the town cleric (Mr Lewin), and others. The chairman (Mr H. E. Moller) and members of the Harbour Board were present, ae well as a number of lady friends of the visitors and the members of the board. The vessel followed the course of the channel for some distanoe past Port Chalmers, and the visitors, of whom there were, altogether, about 50 present, had the various spot* of interest pointed out to them from the bridge. During tho course of the trip an adjournment below was made, and refreshments were partaken oT. and the toast of" The King," followed by that of "The Visitors," was honoured. Mr Fisher thanked the board for its hospitality, and, in the course of a few brief remarks, said that New Zealand had been more than generous m its praise of Australia for the help she had given in the defence of the Pacific. Four year ago, had the same trouble arisen, it would have been a sad matter for New Zealand and Australia, for at that time the enemy with whom we were now engaged was far better equipped in the Pacific than we were. Tho fact that this was known to tho public men in Australia compelled them to take up the attitude they did in desiring to have their own navy finished and up-to-date as a fighting machine. In these days it was useless to throw away money on obsolete ships. Speed, modern guns, efficiency—all uhe6o things were required. It had been said that the chief engineer of the Sydney had got top speed out of the ship in its fight with the Emden. But. as a matter of fact, he got two knots better than the maximum speed at that critical time, and the manner in which the officers and crew of tho ship carried out their duties was a compliment to thorn. Tho same fighting spirit and qualities of seamanship would be found among the people of tho dominions as among those of tho Old Country. That was an asset that they possessed, and it should be brought home to the mothers and fathers that they should make a sacrifice and train their sons. Mr Allen had spoken earlier in the day about tho giving of the same facilities in the Australian naval as in the Military College to New Zealanders. It was tho ambition of the Government to do so, but trouble had arisen through tho limitation of space. However, the naval cadets were being transferred from Gcelong to Jervois Bay, and he was sure that, in all probability, it would bo possible to give New Zealand tho proportion she wished at the college. It was nccessary that tho New Zealand youths should be trained with the Australians, and the Australians with tho New Zealanders. This intermingling would bring about a spirit of camaraderie, and would cause the people of the two countries to be nearer and dearer to each other. As to relationship in trade and commerce, they were at one in many things. Ho appealed to them all, to every public man, and especially to tho editors of newspapers, to make it known in New Zealand that Australia desired to meet the dominion, and he hoped that representative public men would be sent as i delegation to Australia. Australia would send a similar delegation to New Zealand, and if, after a few intercommunications, nothing could be done, the matter would have to rest. Mr Fisher coneluded by again expressing his thanks for the hospitality accorded him. —(Applause.) Mr Boyd also expressed his thanks for tho hospitality shown him on his visit. He would, lie said, go back determined to renew his acquaintance with New Zealand. Mr Allen, in the course of a brief address, said that ho did not know where H.M.A.S. Sydney had obtained tho coal used at tho time when she was pursuing tho Emden, but he would not be surprised if it had come from New Zealand. Mr Fisher: I am sure that if we could get Westport coal it would bo there. Continuing. Mr Allen said that ho was in earnest with regard to the naval training scheme, and bo knew that Australia

would readily open her doors when sho had llio opportunity. Tho military college at Duntroon was as fine an institution as there was anywhere in tlu> world, and he believed thai the naval college would be a.s good. New Zealand would be thankful to Australia if she would allow the dominion to train her men there. New Zealand could not afford a naval college of her own, anil unless silch a thing were well Hone it was belter to leave it, alone. ]t was New Zealand's duly to accept the offer, if Australia made it, to train New Zealanders at the college. .Such a thine; would tend to draw the two countries together, and would help towards 11 realisation that the ideals of Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific were Imperial ideals, and were held in common. There eoulr! be no two ideas as to the necessity of protecting our own homes, our land, and tho trade routes of the Pacific.—(Applause.)