THE SQUADRON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5502, 29 February 1896, Page 7

THE SQUADRON.

o LUNCHEON TO ADMIRAL BRIDGE. Yestorday, the Lyttelton Harbour Board entertained : Eear-Admiral C. A. G. Bridge and his officers at-a luncheon andexcursioh on the tug Lyttelton. The steamer left the wharf, about 11.30 a,m. and.. steamed down the harbour as far as Gollan's Bay, where she . anchored., The naval guests present were — From H.M.S. Orlando, EearAdmiral Bridge, Flag-Captain Fisher, FlagSecretary Hopkins, Flpg-Lientenant.Duff, Major Hearle, 8 .M.L.1., Messrs Allan, Hare and FranHin; from H.M.S. Katoomba, Captain Meryon and Mr Beal ; „from H.M.S. | Ringarooma, Captain Browne, Lieutenant Hibbard and Mr Allan. Others present | were— Messrs E. G. Wright (chairman), i M'Millan, F. Waymouth, J. Stinson, W. i Langdown, J. Joyce, F. Graham, P. Cunningham, Hon J. T. Peacock and Captains M'Clatchie and Parsons, members, of the Lyttelton Harbour Board; Mr C. H. Williams, secretary; Captain J. W. Clark, harbour-master ; Captain Galbraith, pilot ; the Mayor of Christchurch ■•■ Messrs J. Anderson, jtra.,and G*. Laurenson, Chamber of Commerce; Dr Pairman, health officer; Lieutenant-ColonelGordon,BevE.E. Chambers, Captain Willis, and Messrs H. W.Peryj man, J. Enabling, J. H. A. Marceil and H. N. Nalder ; Captain M'lntyre, N Battery and Lieutenant-Commander , L, Joyce, Lyttelton Navals. ./•'.'' I The after-deck, of the tug had been I screened off, and tables were spread, with an J excellent luncheon, the caterer -being. Mr Freeman. The chair was occupied by Mr E. G. Wright, who had on his right Eear- > Admiral Bridge, and on his left the Mayor of Christchurch. j At the conclusion of the luncheon, 1 Mr Wright said he had the pleasant duty of proposing the toast of the Eoyal Navy and his Excellency Admiral, . Bridge. Every Englishman worthy, of- >the. name, must feel a |jlow of pride when he recalled the long list of ■ England's naval victories. Happily the statesmen of Great Britain, whatever might be their differences of opinion upon othei* matters, agreed that the. best, guarantee for the safety of the Empire consisted in the maintenance of, a powerful fleet. He hoped that, many 'of the young men of the Australian colonies, would seek aebnission-, tQ. the Eoyal Navy. It was many years^lnce ; Great Britain had been at war with a.firstclass naval Power. Still, a conflict must come sooner or later, , and when it did he felt no shadow of, doubt that British seamen would, prove themselves worthy of, their forefathers: Eear-Admiral Bridge, in responding to the toast, thanked the members of the Harbour Board most heartily for their hospitality. They had. been received with \ great kindness wherever they went, and were evidently looked upon as the visible 1 I representatives of the country from which* | they were all proud to trace their origin; The British navy had not recently been ' engaged in war with any great Power,* but there was now more than a possibility in the near future of an outbreak of hostilities. If the time for action should come, he! hoped that they would acquit themselves in a manner -that would compare favour-, ably -with the great deeds of those who had gone before them. If there was one thing more than another which they wanted, it was the support, confidence and approbation of their fellow - countrymen in all parts of her Majesty's dominions. He cordially re-echoed the wish that the youth of these colonies would join with- them in assisting to.man the great fleet upon which the security of the Empire depended. In no part of her Majesty's dominions could the utility of the navy be more obvious than in NewZealand. The wealth of the colonies consisted of the produce which ha,d to be taken many miles' across the "ocean,. and it was the business of "the navy to keep these great highways open.; The object of Imperial -defence was clearly defined and well ,undej."stood ; it waa tiie business of the navy to secure uninterrupted, communication, ' and to see that the produce, of markets lying beyond the seas should i*each its destination unmolested. But it was the duty of the countries from which the produce came to see that the navy was spared the impossible, task of giving local protection to every part of her Majesty's dominions. If the Admiral on this or any other station felt no anxiety about the state of local defence he would be in. a much better position to perform his duty. He again thanked them for the kindness extended to himself and his officers, and he trusted it would not be the last time they would meet. * The Mayor of Christchurch proposed the toast of the Lyttelton Harbour . Board, coupled with the name of the Chairman (Mr E. G. Wright). He thought the Board had done a great deal in providing an excellent harbour out of not the best material. It was no use the country pro-' * hieing* so many bushels of wheat or oats to the acre unless they were sure of their produce ' getting to a market. They all appreciated the. welcome the Board had extended to the naval gentlemen. Mr Wright, in responding, * said the Board had done nothing more than its duty. It had been fortunate in having a good revenue, and had lately been enabled to reduce the wharfage and other- charges, which were,. now lower at Lyttelto-q than at, any, other port in the colonies.. He again thanked them for the way in which they had honoured the toast. ,-. ' 'Captain . Fisher, of the Orlando, and . Captain Meryon, of the Katoomba, having spoken briefly on general subjects, the party dispersed and the tug steamed back to Lyttelton.