H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13866, 31 March 1909, Page 7

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

To the Editor of the " Tiniaru Herald." Sir, —I was pleased to read "Citizen's" letter in yesterday's "Herald" re the -Mayor's and Timdru's enterprise in the presentation to the battleship, bearing the Dominion's name. I agree with "Citizen" that honour.'should bs given to Mr Craigie, by having his portrait, say a good enlargement (similar to the one presented by Mr Hardy of him to the Borough Council), sent from Timaru to the High Commissioner to present to the ship. It could be hung in the officers' room, where, I understand, the shield is placed. I 'think that tit- is up to the Timaru public to take in hand and see. that it is catried > 6nt.' < I remember well attending a public meeting in-the Theatre convened and addressed by Mr Craigie as; =tli? organiser of the project. While'admiring his patriotism, I along with many others, smiled at his suggestion to workup the whole of New Zealand from Timaru to provide the funds. When the effort took on through the Mayor's thoroughness, and with the valuable help of Mr C; S. Fraser' as secretary, and the local committee, our smiles changed into faith in the movement, and we were pleased, not to say proud, that Timaru had initiated it. ' The Government did not give the help that they should have done, giving only. £25, which they got back in the cost of .postage for the enormous correspondence entailed. It might just be as well to remind your readers that the school children of the Dominion presented the ship with a large silver bell, and a shield for good shooting. This is, I believe, the first presentation made by school children in the history of the * Empire, and set a good example to otlier States. The Lord Mayor of Londoii tried to induce the children of the metropolis of ' the Empire to follow and make a like present to the ship bearing the great city's name. Besides, the shield and hell, the sum of £SOO is invested in Timaru borough debentures, bearing interest at 4i per cent., producing £22 10s a year, which is paid to the Imperial Navy, to be expended in prizes among the crew of the New Zealand for good shooting. I believe that the New Zealand is the best endowed ship for prize funds in our Navy through Timaru's action. Straight shooting is the great tiling after all; not much good in building Dreadnoughts if the men can't shoot straight. The only mistake that the Mayor and his committee made in carrying out , this patriotic work was, .that the name of Timaru does not appear on the r shield or bell. I understand that pictures of the harbours of the four conires are engraved on the shield, and the '" place where the movement originated, and was brought to so successful an issue is absent. These four centres, if I remember rightly, contributed almost nothing to the funds; Timaru should certainly be in evidence. I suggest that a portrait of the Mayor I he sent from here, with an inscrintion something like the following:—"James Craigie, Mayor of Timaru, N.Z. originator of the presentation and c prize shooting fund to H.M. ship New t Zealand." i

My mite will be forthcoming towards cost of sending the portrait.—l sun, etc., CITIZEN No. 2.