NAVY LEAGUE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14523, 19 August 1911, Page 5

NAVY LEAGUE.

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETCNGfI.

INDIES' BRANCH FORMED,

Ytstarday a. great forward move was matte in connection with the local bnuwd of the Navy League, two wellaitenofd an <i enthusiastic meetings lieing held, in the al Un noon, a. women'* brunch of spine uiuuty member was M r i, ' a"'" 1 iu tua evening Mr i l '. Milner, M.A.. delivered a stirring td- " ar 't«w»'» sea Mary in the last 100 years. ' THE LADIES' MEETING. At the Stafford Booms in the afternoon, there was an attendance of about eighty ladies, and the meeting pjssed oil with a very high degree of success concluding with the unanimous carry, mg ol the following resolution, on tho motion of MesuWnes.A. g, iWtby ""d G. N. 0. Arber;— That this meeting of ladies Wrtily approves of the objects of the Navy League, and undertake* to forward it* oiins and assist in its work to the utmost of its power, and resolvea as tho most practical way of cuwyinß ,ut thie resolution to form a Ladies' Ranch of tho Irrauru Centre of the Navy ', League forthwith. , * Mrs A. S. Elworthy (Inter, elected president) was in Uio chair, heing «t-'"%-tended on tho platform by Messrs 0. N. 6 Arber, goncral secretary, and ' 1. Milner, M.A., of tho Waitaki Boys' Hif."h School.

Mrs Elworthy expressed pleasure at bo numerous a gathering, and stated that they had gathered for the purpose of assisting tlhc Timaru Centre and the movement generally by form. Dig a women's branch of tho League. By doing so they would bo following tie example of England, Canada and other portions of tho scattered Empire. In New Zealand tho movement -was going ahead rapidly, and a very strong women's branch existed ill Dunedin and was prospering in it* sphere of usefulness. The speaker ' advised the formation of a Timaru branch, and said that officers could be elected immediately. Mr Arber, on behalf of tho committee—no other member of which wa» present— ladies for attending in such large numbers, which augured •well for the future success of the branch. It was oustomary at the launching of a ship to liavo a lad* ' present to perforin tho christening, and the time had now arrived when the \ League -were asking for ladies to help /. in launching, successfully, a brunch ' ' and in achieving that success they ' wanted in Timaru. It struck, him that ladies somewhat liked to manage their own affairs in their own way, and he was sure that, if a branch wu» formed, the ladies would help tlie League in every way. Mr Arbor baid the ladies were the more ruccessiul inoney-getters and dwelt on the point that the influence of women in their homes had a striking and far-reaching . effect, such as would make the oiraa and objects of the League ivjddy known. Mr Milner, on rising to speak, »as enthusiastically received. ' In a half hour's talk ho covered a vast amount of ground, and pointed out very logically, with the aid of a mass of tacts and figures why New ZealandeTs, oa patriotic British subjects, should become Navy Leaguers, and thus spread the seed of patriotism and loyalty, nud, indirectly, assist to maintain a sufficient nud efficient Navy, as a safeguard to tho Dominion. His remark* were largely to tho effect that it >vaa not in a jingoistic spirit that tho League was formed and supported, but purely so that Britain's unique position in tho history of the world a* supremo masters of the sea nud as a nation of moral stability could be maintained. Forty-six new members joined thr League, and promises to join were Wfc ceived from many who were unable t< attend on account of other engagOi ments. .', After tho resolution forming «; branch had boon carried by the inoot* ing, an adjournment was taken for afternoon tea. Tho following office-bearers of the new branch were then elected; President, Mrs A. S. Elworthy; Vice-Prosi-dents, Mesdames Arthur Hope, Mayter, P. A. Elworthy, Hunter Weston and Edgar Jones; Committee, Mesdames J. It. Loughiian, Cartwright, F. Barker, Arber, Fodcn, Gladstone Robjnson, 0. E. Thomas, Priest, Finch, Wigloy, Frank Raymond, Pratt, Wm. Evans, RoUeston, H. Elworthy andl Mackay, and Misses O'Brien, Gibbs, Rhodes, Knubley, Richards, Dryrlen and G. Wood; Joint Secretaries, Misses E. McLuTen and Rhodes; Treas- ; urer, Miss L. Knubley. THE EVENING MEETING. There was a large crowd, including an appreciable proportion of children, lad.es predominating, in tho Assembly; Rooms in tile evening, when Mr I l '. Milner, M.A., delivered his lecture on "The sea story of Britain of the last 150 years." Mr Gibbs introduced Mr Milner to the andante. Mr Milner, ho said, was well-known to Timaru audiences—in fact, as a patriotic lecturer his was-» household name througiuiut Mew Zealand. Speaking of tlie Timaru Centra of tho League, Mr Gibbs said the membership now stood at 250 adults' and 170 school children, and such success was largely duo to the enthusiastic and untiring work of the secretary, Mr G. N. G. Arber. Mr Milner prefaced his interesting illustrated lecture by a brief preamble on the necessity of maintaining u. Navy. Ho was pleased to notice the presence of the juvenile element, for, information regarding Britain's seastory was of a character that vitalised geography and history with the young folk. The history was full of great deeds which now shod their glamour, on tho whole of tho nation. It behoved us to he loyal and help in the maintenance of tilie British Navy, lor the sake of tho heritago of our forefathers. God, lie believed, was working out a. great purpose through the agency of the British Empire. Other . grout empires bad triumphed uud ) reached their iseuith, but none had re- ' inained supreme, for t'hey lacked., the , solid moral stability of Britain. Tho lecture proper commenced ivtb, the projection of a photograph of His Majesty King George V, which was greeted with warm applause. Mr Milner's line and comprehensive grip of his subject allowed hini to make the lecture a thoroughly entertaining and inspiring one. The slides were oil clear and well shown by the operator, Mr Pigot. Tracing Britain's great naval engagements, the lecturer made most of the fact that Britain's success and greatness lay in her supremacy of tho seas, nearly all of her triumphs oa. land or tea being won through Iho thoroughness of the iloet. During tho lecture, those present showed a deep sense of patriotism by tho cheering mid applause which greeted each of the early celebrities and naval wonders of Britain. Views of relics of tho, early historic time.* and of events in the progress of the Empire aroused groat enthusiasm. There were then thrown on t'he screen a photograph of tho present "crack" shot of the British Navy, Potty Officer Moody, and ono of a champion Naval shooting party. On tho motion of tho 'chairman, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded tho lecturer. On Thursday lasl Mr O. N. G. Arbor formed a branch of the League i-A <4» Craighead private school.