NAVY LEAGUE NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 14

NAVY LEAGUE NEWS.

The hon. secretary of the Otago branch supplies the following items: —

Under date 20th April the head office writes concerning the Otago branch educational sch&nie, which has been adopted by tho Education Board of Otago: "With regard to the proposals that you have made to the Otago Education Board, it would, I think; be difficult to better these- ; but .1 shall hope in the near future to write you a letter dealing solely with tho educational programme that you. propose adopting. In the meantime I think the book of which you have copies entitled 'The British Navy, Past and Present' would be an excellent .textbook if it could be adopted by the Government authorities, and not the least important part of the programme is that which suggests that pupils shall visit warships when in port, which is an object-lesson that should be exceedingly valuable."

" With regard to the minutes of your Provisional Committee held on tho 11th March, here again your resolutions, if you will permit me to say so, exactly meet the case. If you seeuro the establishment of a training ship for New Zealand boys, you will inaugurate what will probably bo a matter of great moment to the Empire. I shall hope to give publicity to this and other matters connected with your branch in the May number,of the Navy League Journal."'

A supply of Navy League literature camo to hand this week, including pamphlets by some of the ablest naval writers in Britain, copies of the journal for April, almanac for 1904-, etc. Copies of these may be obtained on application to the hon. secretary.

The home office has also sent out specimens of tho gold pendants, brooches, and! studs which aro so highily prized by navy leaguers all th« world over. Two of these are on exhibition in tho window of Messrs G. and T. Young, jewe-llers, Princes street, as is also -the ordinary bronze pendant, which latter is supplied to all members gratis. On the obverse of all these articles is the title of the league over its coat of aims — a very fine piece of workmanship ; on the reverse is the inscription : "' Founded. January, 1895. First President Admiral of the Fleet Sir G. Phipps Hornby, G. 0.8."

A meeting of the Committee' of Management of the- Ota.go branch will be held at the Education Board's office next Tuesday at half-past 3 o'clock, when a good deal of business will come up for consideration, amongst other things the appointment of a secretary.

Th& committee has in hand the publication in pamphlet form of the masterly and patriotic address 'of Mr H. F. "Wyatt, 8.A., entitled "The Mastery ot the Seven Seae." Mr Wyatt, it will be remembered, is an honorary secretary of the Navy League as well as being its envoy to the colonies — a missionary of Empire, in fact, travelling through the British possesions all the world over at his own cost, proclaiming the necessity to (the existence of our nation of "an all-powerful navy." The concluding words of the address referred to aro: "Therefore, remember, that in trying to do what you can, to help the cause for which the Navy League stands— that is, the strength of the (British navy, you are working to sustain all things .great and noble upon carth — Freedom and Justice, and Security and Humanity, and the Succour of the Oppressed; that you are. working in the cause of God and cf righteousness." *

The address is factual, and of so comincing a character as to make it almost inconceivable that any Britisher into whose hands it may fall could hold back from becoming an active member of the league. Tho league is a non-party organisation. fciinoe fchs last list was published the following accessions to the membership have taken place : —Messrs David Bacon, O. K. Bossence, J. A. Burnside, A. A. Donald W. S. Fitzgerald, P. Goyen, J. W. Harding F. J. Hull, Alex Munro, W. T. Neifi Walter H. Pearson, P. G. Pryde, A. F. Rattray, Alex. T. Roberts, John Sicley, and Ca F. Thomas.