TRAFALGAR DAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20271, 2 December 1927, Page 7

TRAFALGAR DAY.

TRIBUTES AT NELSON COLUMN. NEW ZEALAND’S CONTRIBUTIONS NATIVE FLORA IN ICE. (Feom Oca Own Cobbespondent.i LONDON, October 21. To-day is Trafalgar Day, and, as usual, the Nelson Column is festooned with evergreens, and its base surrounded by wreaths in memory of Nelson. New Zealand, according to custom, lias sent a wreath of native flora in a block of ice, and numbers of Dominion branches of the Navy League have sent their floral tributes. Each year the quantity of flowers and their value seem to increase. There is no sign that this custom of commemorating the great victory will, decay. Certainly to-day the display of flowers is more lavish than it has ever been since the war. , . . Along the base of the monument facing south is tho Navy League gift—a great circle of flowers and greenery representing the badge of the league. Tho anchor in the centre and the edge is formed ot white chrysanthemums. The interior plane is made of leaves, and the crown is of white chrysanthemums. New Zealand has pride of place immediately on tho right of the' central piece. Here is a wreath seven feet in height. “In memory of the glorious name of Nelson (who made the British Empire possible) from the. Government 1 People of the Dominion of New Zealand,” It is a, circle of beautiful large white chrysanthemums. At the top is a lavish display of grouped flowers consisting of tho scarlet nunne, gladioli, dahlias, interspersed with ferns and palm Os the same frontage is a smaller wreath from the Wanganui College branch or the league. It is a circle of palm leaves decorated at the top with white lilies. There is a ship made of white flowers with white sails. This is sent from H.M.S. Hood. Newfoundland sends a largo wreath of bronze chrysanthemums and tiger lilies. The British Legion is represented by an anchor B£t in length entirely covered with ]aurel leaves and entwined about by scarlet poppies. The Government, Princes, and people of the Indian Empire sent u circle of bronze, white, and yellow chrysanthemums in the form of the Star of India. Australia’s tribute vies with that of New Zealand in size, but it is made ol laurel leaves with a generous spray of yellow chrysanthemums and mimosa # at the head. Canada has a 7ft wreath of pink chrysanthemums. Finally* on the is a more modest tribute from the Canterbury branch (Christchurch-Temukai of. the Navy League. This is a circle of microcarpa with a spray of red dahlias, pink heather, and pink chrysanthemums. « Probably the richest gift is from the Naval College, Dartmouth. This iel the centre piece along the eastern base ot the monument. It is in the form of an anchor about Bft in length, and it is covered with the choicest blooms of large white chrysanthemums. Other wreaths on this side are from H.M.S. Benbow, Royal Sovereign, Nelson, Lowestoft, Victory, Guracoa, and Repulse, and from a number of army units. A .. , , ■ On the north ,ace are tributes from branches of the Navy League in Quebec, Hongkong, Victoria, and the Canadian branch. Otago branch sends a wreath ot yellow chrysanthemums and fern with a spray of scarlet nurinea. Hawke s. Bay send a wreath of green foliage with a large spray of white chrysanthemums and white lilies.

A CLEAR CRYSTAL BLOCK. The central feature on this face, however, is the wreath in ice under which is the inscription: ‘‘These flowers were nicked in Wellington, New Zealand, in July 1927.” It is not always ' that this unusual tribute is a success. On this occasion, however, the block has carried well, and the effect is better than it has ever been. The ice block is 3ft in length and 2ft in height and breadth. On previous occasions the ice has been somewhat cloudy. To-day one can see at least six or seven inches below the surface, and it is as clear as water. Consequently, the fine collection of native foliage, creepers, flowers, ferns, and berries are plainly visible. The ferns and foliage have preserved their original green, .and probably the entire wreath appears just as it dm when it was first placed into the unfrozen W? On the western base of the monument the central piece is a beautiful circle or white chrysanthemums about 8t m height. At the head is a lavish spray of laigc white chrysanthemums, white lilies, and white heather. Other wreaths are sent from ships of the fleet: Cardiff, Empioss of India, Warspite Renown, Ramalhes, Curlew, Conquest, Excellent, and Cairo. There are also two large wreaths from the naval barracks at Chatham and DevonP °On the southern side of the column is displayed Nelson’s famous message. THE SPIRIT OF NELSON. Lord Sydenham, deputy-president of the Navy League, has issued the following Trafalgar Day message: — More than 30 years ago I wrote that ■ “Nelson was the most brilliant exponent alike of a national policy and of a national spirit. If we cling to the one and keep alive the other the unknown future can be calmly awaited. That the nation adhered to this policy proved the salvation of the Empire, and, as in Nelson’s day, of Europe in the Great War. In commemorating tins Trafalgar Day, the 122nd anniversary of the death of our national hero in the hour of his victory, the Navy League desires to recall the example, which, as much as the memory of his triumphs on the sea, is the essence oftheegacy whioh he bequeathed to the Butish people in all lands. “In Nelson,” wrote Mahan, “resided the spirit which takes » ma « to the front, not merely in battle, but at a times-the spirit which takes a man to the front, not merely imbattle, but at all times”—the spirit which alone can inspire a nation to defend its honour and to hold its own in Idie van of progress. The year after the battle of the Nile, Austria, crushed at Hohenlinden, was forced to make peace, Catherine the Great was dead, and Napoleon was able to revive the armed neutrality, of the north, to which Prussia, Sweden, and Denmark promptly acceded. Our island State stood almost alone against the might of Europe, directed by a master hand. ‘‘We have now arrived, wrote Nelson, our national champion, atthat period which we have often heard of but must now execute—that of fighting for our dear country, ... I have only to say that the service of my country is the obje.t nearest to my heart. these simple words define the spirit which ruled bis immortal career—the spirit which shone brightly in all classes and saved the Empire Nelson knew not, in conflict with a greater power than N apoleon ever widded. lgo3 j ie sa iled for the Mediterranean in the Victory to enter on the most trying period of his life and to meet his death at Trafalgar. Government, ho had just written, cannot be more anxious for my departure than 1 am, it a war, to go.” The nation is now faced with dangers of which Nelson could not have dreamed, and now, as always, “ the strong man armed keepeth the house in peace and mav be able to maintain peace in other houses. We have never had more need of the spir.' which shone throughout his glorious career. Patriotism, sclf-eacn-fice, an abiding sense of duty owed to %t our dear country,” and the gencious attitude towards other nations which Nelson displayed —such are the qualities which can enable the nation to remain the chief bulwark of -iberty and of civilisation in a distracted world. Trafalgar Day should bring home to all loyal British citizens the “national policy on which the Empire depends. Nelson, above all men, by precept and by demonstration, has taught us £o hold the sea.” That is the great lesson that the Navy League exists to proclaim.