NELSON’S FLAGSHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20743, 14 June 1929, Page 9

NELSON’S FLAGSHIP

THE WORK OF RESTORATION. SUGGESTIONS BY THE KING. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, June '•2, Admiral Sir George Hope disclosed, on the occasion of a visit to the Victory, that the King had made- sugestions for the restoration at present being carried out. The Admiralty agreed to assist the work from the naval votes, and has given a site and buildings within a stone’s throw of the Victory for the purpose of a museum.

Admiral Hope declared that all that human ingenuity can suggest to preserve Nelson’s flagship has been done.—-'Aus-tralian ' Press Association—United Service. RESTORATION FUND EXHAUSTED. ' (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 12. Admiral Sir George Hope, speaking at the annual meeting of the Society for Nautical Research, at the Royal United Services Institution, said that the fund to save the Victory, which was begun in 1922, and which realised £75,000, was now exhausted. Since they started the work of restoration and preservation in 1923 more than £IOO,OOO had been spent upon the ship. The restoration of Nelson’s flagship, which has been rotting at Portsmouth, has been taken up enthusiastically at Home, and recently the King contributed to the fund. The Victory has remained in commission as flagship at Portsmouth, and may still fly the flag. But half of her timbers are rotten. There is no intention now of restoring the bow as it formerly was. This would be too costly. What is to be done is to bring back the ship ns far as may be to her appearance in Nelson's days. The decks will be cleared and restored, the masts and yards will be built and hung as they were, new timber will replace what is rotten, the recessed stern will be rebuilt, and the ship will be repaintdd in the Trafalgar manner The Society for Nautical Research was authorised by the Admiralty to raise a fund to make all plans for the restoration.