THE NEW ARETHUSA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22053, 8 September 1933, Page 7

THE NEW ARETHUSA

OPENING FOR SERVICE PRINCE GEORGE'S ADDRESS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 27. The new training ship Arethusa was formally opened for service by Prince George and dedicated by the Bishop of Rochester. Sixty years ago the original Arethusa wag moored off Greenhithe for the use of the organisation known as the Shaftesbury Homes and Arethusa Training Ship. It has now been replaced by this more modern ship. The new Arethusa looked very smart when Prince George, in the ship's gig, manned by a picked crew of boys, was rowed to her. The boys, too, looked smart, drawn up in four lines on the deck awaiting inspection. After the Prince, who was accompanied by the captain superintendent of the Arethusa, Commander C. W. Bower, had inspected the staff, the boys, and the ship, he received a formal welcome from Mr Dcvitt, who referred to the efforts which the members of the royal family were making to encourage the revival of trade. He thanked Prince George for the help they had given. He thanked particularly the donors of steel lockers for the boys, of a motor launch, of the yacht's gig, of rubber flooring, of a refrigerator, of an ice-cream making machine, of a wireless set. and his fellow-members and friends of Lloyd's for a swimming bath to be built on ashore. SAILORS FOR THE EMPIRE. Prince George said that the old Arethusa hud done a great work in the past, and the new Arethusa would, he felt sure, turn out many more good sailors for this country and for the Empire. It was to the boys of to-day that one must look for the future security and prosperity of the country, and he was sine that they would uphold the traditions of the past. He congratulated the boys on having so tine a ship for their new home. He would add his thanks to the generous donors who had helped to make the new ship possible, and especially to the members of Lloyd's, whose chairman, Sir Percy MacKinnon, they were all glad to see present. They had once more given valuable support by subscribing £SOOO for a new swimming bath. Mr F. 11. Clayton, chairman and treasurer of the Shaftesbury Homes and Arethusa Training Ship, said that live years ago they took over responsibility for the Newport Market Army Bands School, while three years ago they acquired the historic mansion. Esher Place, associated with Cardinal Wolsey, as a home for 175 girls. The Arethusa had converted 12.000 boys into sailor lads, and they would be clad of help to raise the £14,000 still required to wipe out their debt on the new ship.